This female Giant Garter Snake is about to give birth, judging by the looks of her mid-section. It’s pretty rare to find Giant Garter Snakes this exposed, and even more rare to find one that has coloration this beautiful. She was found on the Conservancy’s Frazer North tract, doing what scientists call “thermoregulating.” That is, trying to warm up her early-morning cold blood by sunning herself. Note also that there are no scars from otters, ibis or other creatures that like to rough these guys up. There is no sign of nematode problems either. Truly, this is about as perfect a specimen as you will find.
One Against Many?
The Conservancy uses a variety of tools to manage vegetation on its preserves, guided by a strategy known as “the soft path first.” One of those tools is grazing. Over the years, the Conservancy has used large grazing animals to manage marsh and adjacent upland vegetation, including Hereford, Black Angus, …