Garter Snake Gives Birth During Dramatic Backyard Rescue
Earlier this month, Tidewater Wildlife Rescue received an urgent call from a concerned homeowner. A common garter snake had become hopelessly entangled in plastic netting in their yard—and time was running out.
Rescue volunteer Serenity Reiner and her partner, Daniel, quickly arrived on the scene. With steady hands and quiet focus, they got to work.
Daniel gently held the distressed snake while Reiner carefully cut away the netting using scissors. The goal: free her as quickly and gently as possible to reduce stress.
“We were very focused,” Reiner told The Dodo. “We wanted to be as fast as possible to limit her stress.”
But just as they were nearing the end of the delicate rescue, the rescuers were stunned.
The snake began giving birth—right in their hands.
With urgency and care, Reiner snipped the final strands of netting as the snake gave birth to two tiny babies. Once free, the new mother and her newborns were gently released into the wooded area behind the home.
A Wild Birth Story
Surprisingly, baby garter snakes are independent from birth. According to the U.S. National Park Service, they are born fully formed and able to hunt for food on their own. Female garter snakes typically give birth to 15 to 40 babies at a time, so Reiner suspects more were likely born after the mother was safely released.
“I felt so much joy knowing that she was able to go back to her normal life unharmed,” Reiner said.
She also took the opportunity to educate the homeowner on the importance of using wildlife-safe netting, which can prevent tragic incidents like this one.
Thanks to quick thinking and gentle hands, a tangled emergency turned into a miraculous moment of new life—and a reminder of the small steps we can take to live more wildlife-friendly lives.