Wednesday, April 16th
April's meeting will focus on how to safely handle and present your reptile to the public. Please feel free to bring your own animal to show off.
Meetings start promptly at 8pm in the Alumni Room of Medaille College.
Annual Banquet
PLEASE NOTE: The annual banquet and recognition dinner will be rescheduled due to conflicts. The new date will likely be a Saturday in May, please contact a board member for more information.
Shorthead Garter Snake
(Thamnophis brachystoma)
The Shorthead garter Snake is usually about 18 inches in length. The body is light gray or brown with a central light yellow-green dorsal stripe. which fades as it approaches the tail. Usually three dark longitudinal stripes can be found on the sides as well.
Mating usually begins with these live-bearers in early spring right after hibernation with young being born in August.
Shorthead Garter Snakes can usually be found in grasslands and meadows close to bodies of water. They can be found feeding on earthworms, frogs, toads and salamanders. Occasionally they can be found feeding on fish as well.
Remember that in many places it is illegal to take wildlife out of the wild without the proper permits from local, state, or federal authorities. Please do not release any captive reptiles or amphibians into the wild as this will disrupt the natural order of our environment. See our amphibian and reptile adoptions page for more information on what to do with unwanted herps.
Help further herpetology research and education by donating to the Marvin R. Aures Herpetological Grant