Garter+Snake(Ribbon)

Garter Snake

Habitat- Garter snake habitats range from wood lands, meadows, marshes, and ponds Prey and food- Garter snakes will eat fruit, field mice, and worms. These are the best choices of a meal for a garter snake Reproduction- early in the spring after hibernation they usually meet near water and lay their eggs near there. But first the male takes female pheromones and lures the other male snakes away from the female of his choice and when they leave he darts toward the den to mate. Cage- T he cage should be neither too large nor too small. Too small, and the snake can’t get enough exercise and its health will suffer. Too large, and the snake will feel exposed and insecure. A good guideline is to make sure that the length plus width of the cage is somewhat larger than the total length of the snake. (For example, a snake up to 90 cm long could live in a tank that is 60 cm long and 30 cm wide) Heat- The ideal temperature for most snakes is in the 25-30°C range (about 75-85°F), but it’s important that the snake have the option of warming up.

My personal reflections: In a total amount of time that i have known Ribbon i have been very close to her. Ribbon arrived at EMS during the year of 2003 at the age of 11 she had already lived for 2/3 of her life I am happy that she spent her final years here. I started holding and playing with Ribbon when she first came here, she loved to swim and hide in the tree decoration in her cage. Ribbon loved clothing, as long as i can remember whenever somebody held Ribbon she would climb into the sleeve of whoever was holding her. Once i was not paying attention and she climbed in my shirt and came out the head space of my shirt. I never let anyone hold Ribbon for she was my best good friend and i always made sure people were holding her right and if they weren't I showed them, but then I took her for my self and wind around my arm and crawl in my shirt. For sometime i didn't see Ribbon primarily during 6th and 7th grade, this was primarily when she aged. At the beginning of my 7th grade school year i joined Dr. Day's learning with the animals class when i saw Ribbon she wasn't what she used to be: she was old, tired, lifeless, and different during this time i came to the conclusion that Ribbon was old and that she was truly dying. On the day of Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 she died spending her final hours in her hollowed out tree decoration which changed and seemed as old as she was. All i can do is hold onto her memory and remember her in spirit, body, and mind. This passage is dedicated to Ribbon the snake who was everything more than just a common Garter Snake: she was a friend.