Last year, I saw a snake basking in the grass, called the children, snuck up on it real careful, picked it swiftly up behind the head and by the middle - stiff as a board poor dead thing.

And my little one kept on asking to play with it for weeks after...

You just answered your own question . Since garter snakes love water and basically eat frogs and toads , thats why their at your yard . Rick

"You just answered your own question . Since garter snakes love water and basically eat frogs and toads , thats why their at your yard."

I didn't ask a question; I just made an observation.