If it weren't for Garter snakes, a billion kids (adults, too) wouldn't be snake-lovers. When I was a kid, in Minnesota, what a joy it was to go out collecting plain old Garter snakes for a day, to see how many I could get. And what a wonder to finally find something different, a Redbelly, or a Bullsnake. I always wanted to find a Hognose, but never did.

OOOOHHH!!! I hatched a clutch of Redbellies on my gas stove once. I released them as soon as they hatched, though- they were _so_ small, like worms.

I was also an expert skink/swift catcher as a child, and at one time held the record for the largest Blandings Turtle found in MN.

Herps are so easy compared to cats and dogs.

I found a snake out in my backyard last summer. It was grey and black patterned. After finding Maizey, the Perfect Snake, in my yard only a few months previously, I was excited, and hoped it was a baby Corn. Picked it up, and proceeded to get bit about a million times. Brought it in the house, in a container, and looked it up. Baby Black Racer, known for a vile temperment. Photographed and released. Don't want any pets that don't want to be pets!

Nanci