Red List Status:
Least Concern
For more info on classifications visit www.iucnredlist.org
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Diet
Common Garter snakes typically eat amphibians, small fish, earthworms, insects, slugs, snails and leeches. Using their excellent sense of smell and vision along with their sharp teeth and quick reflexes, it’s easy for the Garter snake to find and devour its prey.
Fun fact
Male garter snakes sometimes produce both male and female pheromones. During the mating season, this ability fools other males into attempting to mate with them.
Habitat
Commonly found in North America, Garter snakes prefer moist, grassy environments and can be found in marshes, fields, forests and wetland areas. Although generally a solitary reptile, Garter snakes hibernate in large numbers from late October until early April in natural burrows or holes under rocks. They lay together forming tight coils to keep warm which ensures they maintain a minimum body temperature for survival.
Garter snakes can vary in colour and pattern but typically have three light stripes that run down the length of their body. The average length is about 88cm (35ins) but they can grow to be as long as 137cm (54ins) with males being smaller than females. Mating season begins as soon as they emerge from hibernation in the spring. Gestation is usually about 2-3 months, birthing live litters of 4-80 young. After birth, baby garter snakes are left to defend and feed themselves with the mother offering no parental care or protection. Garter snakes are the prey of many predators and will use their stealth and camouflage to protect themselves, often fleeing into water to escape land attack. If threatened, they often coil to make themselves seem larger and then strike and bite. They can discharge a rather smelly secretion and also urinate on attackers in order to escape. The average lifespan of a Garter snake is 2 years in the wild and 6-10 years in captivity.
Animal zone
Deep Blue One
Deep Blue One is home to an array of colourful tropical fish, amazing corals and large mangrove trees.
The Deep is open daily from 10am – 6pm Monday - Friday and 9am - 6pm weekends & school holidays (last entry 5pm)
Car parking is available at a cost of £3 for six hours. It can become full during school holidays – alternative car parks can be found here.
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SAT NAV (HU9 1TU) this will take you to Tower Street, Hull, the nearest main road to The Deep.
| Type of ticket | Online |
|---|---|
| Adult | £16.50 |
| Child (3 - 15) | £13.00 |
| Under 3s/Essential carers | FREE |
| Student*/Senior | £15.50 |
* Students must provide a valid NUS card or proof of age is required for school/sixth form students
Please click here to see The Deep's terms and conditions of entry
Public transport information
The Deep takes the safety and security of its staff and visitors seriously and continues to work with Counter Terrorism Police Officers to review security regimes on a regular basis.
The Deep reserves the right to carry out random bag searches at reception. To minimise delays, please avoid bringing large bags and rucksacks into the attraction.
More information can be found on how to play your part here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/stay-safe-film https://www.mi5.gov.uk/what-you-can-do
