Is it true that are Garter Snakes are harmful to other humans? if it is please tell me why are they. Cause i found one in my front-yard, when i saw it i freaked out like i was crazy. If not then tell me why. i'm confused.
2006-07-08 17:17:12 · 12 answers · asked by x_men_fan 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Actually, it's been discovered that garter snakes, as well as most other colubrids, do in fact possess venom. That doesn't mean that they're dangerous though, they're harmless. They lack an efficient delivery system, and their bited rarely break the skin anyway. Check out
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/05/science/05veno.html?ex=1270353600&en=d021f02d1ac118bd&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt
or http://www.venomdoc.com
2006-07-09 03:19:26 · answer #1 · answered by snake_girl85 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well... all creatures secrete some digestive proteins in their saliva. If you want to say that garter snakes are venemous, you pretty much have to say that humans are venemous too. (I'd much rather be bit by a garter snake, though -- much less damage, and less chance of a nasty bacterial infection.)
If you allowed the garter snake to chew on you for a while, you might end up getting a rash. Or maybe not. If you had a really bad reaction, the bite site might be little swollen for a day or two. Anything worse than that is probably a bacterial infection.
As your other respondants say, though -- it's great that you've attracted a garter snake! They're a good sign that your yard is ecologically healthy, and they'll help keep the real pests in check.
2006-07-10 05:51:02 · answer #2 · answered by Tenley_S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol... people actually have built in phobias for certain things... spiders, bugs, snakes... it's evolutionary... even if a chimpanzee has never seen a snake before it will freak out when exposed to one for the first time. even regular snake owners and handlers can experience this built in phobia if they are 'surprised' by a snake... You don't want to be climbing a tree or doing yard work and all of a sudden confront a snake by touching it or having it eye level or otherwise very suddenly close to you. Otherwise snakes for the most part are harmless to most human beings.
wild garter snakes can be bitey... more so than wild cornsnakes or kingsnakes, also they have a pseudo-venom similar to hognose snakes... it kills frogs and fish but is harmless to humans.
2006-07-09 06:22:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Garter snakes are harmless but trust me the bite does hurt and may cause a infection but unless you mess with it there is nothing to worry about. Just let it do its thing it will keep your insects down
2006-07-09 10:32:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
garter snakes are bitey if wild caught. They actually do posses a slightly nerve toxic saliva. They are rear fanged which means they have longer teeth toward the rear of the mouth which they grab hold with to help swallow prey. To induce the venom they actually chew on the prey. I had a buddy had one get hold of his pinky finger and he got sick for three days. Not real bad but it put him on the couch. I would be carefull of large specimens.
2006-07-09 12:18:29 · answer #5 · answered by dogdude1969 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not harmful...not poisonous..probably more scared of you than you are of it. However, all snakes can bite...so even if they are not poisonous..not a good idea to pick them up or mess with them. I have picked up garter snakes before and they are really mellow and never tried to bite me. I am a wildlife biologist so I get paid to pick them up!
2006-07-09 04:42:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are harmless and I would count myself blessed to find one in my yard. You must be doing something right to attract one! Congratz!
Of course, being bitten by any snake is painful so don't try to pick it up- it is wild- and don't step on it and you should be fine.
They are not aggressive, so don't worry that it will come after you! it is much more afraid of you than you are of it.
2006-07-09 02:13:40 · answer #7 · answered by Brit 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Garter snakes are harmless,they are non-venomous.
2006-07-09 00:24:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're harmless as far as being poisonous, but their bite (they have very fine, very small teeth that can break the skin) can lead to infection due to bacteria. They can also have salmonila (sp?) bacteria in their digestive tract, so if you handle them, wash your hands immediately afterwords.
2006-07-09 00:27:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless you fell of a cliff trying to get away from one, they're harmless, so don't worry about them. Concentrate on the real menace to mankind----killer squirrels.
2006-07-11 17:01:20 · answer #10 · answered by preacher55 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋