By Rix Quinn
This is an odd story, and lots of it is true. (I made up a couple parts, because I forgot.)
I was on a long walk when I passed a home with a “For Sale” sign. It was an “open house” day, and the realtor was opening the door.
“Mind if I have a look?” I asked. “My cousin’s being transferred here, and this size house is ideal.” The realtor, introducing himself as Dan, invited me in.
The house was near perfect. Bedrooms the right size, a large den, and great updatedkitchen.“Thepriceis reasonable,”Isaid.“Howlong has it been on the market?”
“Eight months,” he said, “because it’s got one small problem. There’s a snake loose inside it. I don’t think it’s dangerous.
“It’s a garter snake, but it’s a big one. About two feet long.Thepreviousownertells me it eats earthworms and even trout.”
Since I am a sales guy, I started thinking how I could help Dan. Could I learn more about garter snake society?That’s hard to find, becausegartersnakescannot write.
But these reptiles do form social groups. If separated from their “friends” and placedwithunfamiliargarter snakes, they will return to their original buddies.
I went to the pet store, and bought another garter snake. The next night, I gave it to the realtor.
He put it in a cage in the living room, along with some bites of trout. We would catch the escapee by either food or potential for a social life.
Sure enough, the next morning Dan found two snakes in the cage. Which convinced me that most garter snakes won’t venture out if tempted by trout.