Garter snakes are often found hiding under rocks and wood when they're not hunting. | University of Nevada, Reno press relelase
Garter snakes are often found hiding under rocks and wood when they're not hunting. | University of Nevada, Reno press relelase
With spring upon us, the University of Nevada, Reno wants to remind people that garter snakes will start popping up in our area.
According to the university, the snakes are native to the state and spend their winter hibernating before making their presence known in late winter with the most common garter snake in Reno being Thamnophis elegans (terrestrial garter snake).
Evolution, Ecology and Conservation Biology doctoral candidate Joshua Hallas recently published two research articles detailing how the snakes are vital to the environment.
“I wanted to learn the molecular techniques we use here. We use a method that samples parts of the entire genome, called double digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing," said Hallas. "Using that technique, you can gather much more data than what I was able to collect during my master’s. What took me two weeks here would have taken me years using traditional Sanger sequencing. And more data allows you to establish finer and more robust evolutionary patterns.”
Hallas’ research was published with the aid of the associate professors of biology Thomas Parchman and Chris Feldman, according to the university.
Hallas added that the snakes are not a threat to human beings, other than mystifying you with a strange order and said it is best just to leave them alone and let them be.
“It might bite you, but it will mostly be shocking,” Hallas said. “They’re more likely to musk you like a skunk, it’s pretty gross. Most water snakes musk by excreting an oily substance.”
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