Snakeguy!! A little help?

[Derosa]

This little guy appears to live outside my front door. I am more of the live and let live type, but my wife is a bit freaked out. Can you give me an id? Any thoughts on convincing him to live elsewhere?

 

[DannyInMontana]

Garter...pretty commnon and non poisonous...

 

[DannyInMontana]

Common Garter Snake - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Snakeguy101]

this is a sub adult Eastern garter snake about a week prior to shedding (or just dusty). Although they actually have a very mild venom mixed with their saliva, there is not a system for them to deliver it through fangs or grooves and the toxins are only harmful to the microfauna such as minnows, worms, and large insects. Nothing to be worried about, I have been bit countless times by these guys and apart from bleeding a bit more than expected and itchyness for the next day or two- no ill effects. If you don't mind them, they are not bad to have around to keep small rodent populations in check. If you don't like there there are a few things you can do:

1) pick up any debris that may be around the house/ yard such as trash piles, firewood stacks, long grasses, etc. The cleaner your yard, the less snakes will want to hide there.
2) If you are really frightened, you can use moth balls to deter snakes. The chemicals burn their vomeronasal organ (thing that allows them to smell with their tongue) and it keeps them away. Just replace them once you can no longer smell them (usually after rains or a few weeks).
3)Keep a cat around. This may back fire when it starts bringing in dead snakes but they will be dead....

 

[Snakeguy101]

Also, good shot but I do not like how the snakes body is "kissing" the left edge of the photo. I think a tighter crop and auto levels would really help.

 

[loopy]

3)Keep a cat around. This may back fire when it starts bringing in dead snakes but they will be dead....

Maybe, my cat used to sneak live snakes into the house to play with...

 

[DannyInMontana]

If he's just sitting like that you can easily get a hanger, get a grabber tool(not sure its proper name) from the kitchen, untwist the hanger, make it into the shape of a J, and lift him out of the bush while grabbing him(be gentle) and put him into a bucket. Take him to a field or wooded area and release. Done deal, no need for a cat, or bites.

 

[Snakeguy101]

If he's just sitting like that you can easily get a hanger, get a grabber tool(not sure its proper name) from the kitchen, untwist the hanger, make it into the shape of a J, and lift him out of the bush while grabbing him(be gentle) and put him into a bucket. Take him to a field or wooded area and release. Done deal, no need for a cat, or bites.

or just come back 5 minutes later, they never stick around long.

 

[Derosa]

You da man, snake guy...I'm fine just leaving him be...we'll see how the wife feels...also thanks to the others...what happened to the "thanks" button? Also, I noticed the left side of the photo on upload. I'll go back to the original and adjust the crop.