I notice one occasionally here and there up by the house but I don't know if it's the same one. One was hanging out in my strawberry box planter, of all places, which has bird net over it so the varmits can't get in it -- maybe snakes like fruit? DH said he's seen a lot of them out in the meadow, which I attribute to that being left unmowed so there's probably some tasty pickins' out back there. :0)

Probably increase in their food supply. I'm glad it finally warmed up and I am seeing them in the yard. I have a bumper crop of rabbits this year and they are eating everything. I am hoping the snakes will thin them out.

There’s probably a den nearby.

Numbers of garter snakes have been building and building here over the years, BUT then last summer was tortouroly HOT and bone bone dry that their normal diet of frogs had crashed in numbers. This year, I'm seeing scant few snakes, even those that I had become familiar with such as 'Stubby', who was missing a portion of its tail, we had been on good terms and he (or she) would barely budge from position when I'd approach. Much more moist so far this season and seeing more frogs and insects and now even a few teeny tiny baby garter snakes are about.

Sounds like a mixed reaction. we live on Whidbey and pasture/wetlands border our south facing property. lots of critters creep in. lots of earthworms (on the look out for jumping worms), slugs, and plenty of frogs still singing at night oit there. definitely wet. our barn owls have been gone the last few years so that might be contributory too. A ”DEN”. don’t even go there….

Three years ago, after they developed the woods behind our house a bunch of garter snakes moved into my garden, but this year they seem sparse again. Maybe it's just been warmer and they're in the grass instead of lying out.

I see them occasionally, but never in such a large group as you have on that log. Cleaned our large pond last year and had one show up for a short visit. In general we don't see too many.

Maybe three years ago I used to have a whole family of garter snakes in my small yard. But then I started mowing the lawn more consistently and removing the slugs (by hand). I think without the tall grass and without the slugs, garter snakes did not thrive in the yard anymore. (garter snakes eat slugs, if you did not know)

I need garter snakes! Sadly we only have three snake species (or four by some accounts) and they're all rare. Only one is venemous and it’s very habitat specific. You’d not find it in a garden.