What happens if a garter snake bites you

The eastern fox snake is listed as threatened, while the gray black rat snake is listed under special concern. Snake sightings can be reported to miherpatlas. More: Michigan's only venomous snake now federally protected. More: In Detroit, puppies once were used as reptile food. Facebook Twitter Email. Garter snakes in Michigan: They'll bite — but they're also 'good neighbors'. Show Caption. Hide Caption. Once they have found their target, garter snakes use various hunting methods, including peering, craning, and ambushing.

The mild toxin present in their saliva is useful to paralyze smaller prey. Like every other snake, garter snakes eat their food whole. Garter snakes are highly adaptable, and can be found in different types of habitats.

They are commonly seen on meadows, marshes, woodlands, and hillsides. They also love to stay in moist grass, and can be found near water. In addition, they are also present in urban and suburban areas where there is cover, such as debris, vegetation, tall grass, or rocks. Garter snakes are commonly active during warm seasons such as spring and summer, while they hibernate during winter.

However, they are often seen out in the sun to raise their body temperature, since they are cold-blooded like every other reptile. Meanwhile, they may occupy dark areas during spring and summer. They are also seen on grass, under the leaves, or logs where they can camouflage. Garter snakes are common in North America, and can be found anywhere from Alaska to Florida.

In fact, it is the state reptile of Massachusetts. However, there are no traces of them in Southwest. A few garter snakes are very helpful in your yard and garden since they eat annoying pests, such as slugs, leeches, grasshoppers, and rodents that may eat your plants and vegetations. However, too many garter snakes are not beneficial in your yard. First of all, your visitors may be frightened with the presence of garter snakes. Garter snakes will feed on annoying garden pests, like snails, leeches, slugs, and grasshoppers.

They may even eat larger pests like mice, frogs, and salamanders, though some of these pests can serve their own beneficial purpose in a garden. Though garter snakes are not poisonous, people are still at risk of receiving bites from venomous snakes like rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths.

If you ever receive a bite from a snake, symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and labored breathing may be signs that you were bitten by a venomous snake according to the CDC. They recommend seeking medical attention immediately. Some homes are more susceptible to hosting snakes than others, especially those located near grassy fields or heavily wooded areas.

The most obvious way to know if your lawn is hosting garter snakes is if you spot one slithering around your yard. You might not see them. You might not hear them. But there may be an entire population of pests living in your home's crawl space.

Pests you may find in your crawl space range from furry mammals like chipmunks, rats and mice, to destructive insects and bugs like termites.

Seeing more birds than business lately? If you're noticing an influx of flocks, you're likely in an area where birds are migrating to nest or wait out colder weather elsewhere. It's not the business or tourism increase you'd hoped for, and there are three bird pest species in particular you need to watch out for.

Your home may be your castle, but it can also be a welcome shelter for insects, rodents and other kinds of pests. To keep unwanted visitors away, take the following steps for pest-proofing your home. During the colder months of the year, rats, mice, squirrels and other rodents seek out places to stay warm and safe from predators.

One of their favorite places to hide out is the engine of your car. Have you ever tried to start your car after tucking it away for a few days to find that there's something wrong under the hood?

When your mechanics take a look, they find damaged, frayed or broken wires that are indicative of one thing — rodents calling your car home.