es eee Outdoors What brings th st eee ra GARTER SNAKES The garter snakes have come out of winter dormancy along the concrete wall on the sunny side of our house. Thinking back over my records of many. years, it seems that they are responding to the rise in ambient temperature, rather than the internal biological clocks which govern the recurrent activi- ties of so many forms of life. At any rate, it is good to see them abroad again for they will soon be busily consuming unde- sirable slugs just as rattlesnakes and bull snakes in other parts of the world make inroads into the populations of undesired rodents. Snakes are very interesting ani- mals. Our garter snakes have already begun mating and will in due time (three-five months) pro- duce their slender living young, unlike the majority of snakes which lay eggs. The young garter snakes will be bor enclosed in a delicate transparent membrane from which they readily escape to forage for small worms, slugs, etc. They are ready to take care of themselves and do not have to undergo a period of learning. I suspect that almost everyone has watched a garter snake flick out its forked tongue at rather regular intervals. The snake is using its tongue to assist it in smelling. The forks pick up tiny particles from the animal’s immediate sur- roundings and then deposit them in two tiny cavities in the roof of the mouth when the tongue is drawn in again. These cavities, Jacobson’s organs, do the actual smelling. So the tongue is neither a stinger nor an organ of hearing. People have often noted the glassy stare with which a snake fixes you. This is related to the transparent cap which covers the eye and cannot be removed. This cap is formed by the eyelids which have been transformed into a per- manently closed window, so, were you a snake, you would never be troubled by dust in the eye! The eyes of snakes are particu- larly adapted for seeing things at close range. Some members of the group are night prowlers while more are active by day but whether noctumal or diumal, the eyes have evolved in relation to light inten- Sity: cH THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF CENTRAL SAANICH OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION Central Saanich residents are invited to attend an open house to review the second draft of a new Community Plan. This is your opportunity to discuss the plan with the tN Cy Hampson photo How well do snakes hear? Though they possess good inner ears, there is never a trace of an outer ear nor of an ear-drum so that snakes are unable to pick up vibrations in the air as we do. ‘suspect almost every- one hwas watched a garter snake filick its forked tongue at regu- lar intervals’ A snake’s ears are about as easy to see as its hips! Were you to cover a snake’s eyes with a bit of TeeReview Wednesday, March 21,1990 — A18 tape, you would be unable to arouse it by shouting, blowing a bugle close to its head or banging on a washtub with a hammer. But the inner ear can apparently pick up vibrations from solid objects just as you can detect an approaching train by pressing your Car against a rail. I took the accompanying photo of garter snakes emerging from a winter ‘snake den’ some time ago. The snakes congregated in this den in the autumn for at least several years. e garter snakes out fo sunbathe? Though they had converged upon the winter quarters from all directions, the phenomenon is not fully understood. We do know that since the entire underside of a snake’s body is in contact with the earth, it would tend to leave a sttong scent trail. a Perhaps returning snakes cross® the trails of those ahead and fol- low, but they still must know which direction to follow. Do snakes hear the music of the — Indian snake charmer? How then are they ‘charmed’? # NICHOLAS W. LOTT TIMOTHY M. LOTT D. MAYLAND MCKIMM 9330 FOURTH ST. SIDNEY, B.C. 656-3961 McKIMM & LOTT BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS & NOTARIES GEORGE E McKIMM COUNCIL Personal Injury / Real Estate Criminal Law / Wills & Estates Family Law / Commercial & Co. Law Municipal Law FIRST 1/2 HOUR CONSULTATION FREE CHRISTOPHER S. LOTT Fe R.G. WITT LAPPER GRANT S. WARRINGION 118 HANSON RD. GANGES, B.C. New Life in the 537-9951 : - Neighborhood Family-style homes for people with handicaps consultants. Brentwood Bay Library. An informal drop-in session will be held: TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1990 FROM 2:00 PM. TO 5:00 PM. AND FROM 7:30 PM. TO 9:30 PM. at the CENTRAL SAANICH CULTURAL CENTRE 1225 Clarke Road Activity Room “A” BRENTWOOD BAY, B.C. Copies of the draft plan will be available on March 20, 1990 for purchase at the Municipal Hall and for perusal at the Please take this opportunity to review this draft plan. A. G. Mackey, P. Eng. Municipal Engineer In 1981, British Columbia began returning men and women with mental handicaps to residen- tial neighborhoods, moving them from Woodlands, Glendale and Tranquille into supervised family- style homes. These are not people who are considered mentally ill, but ordinary people of lower than average intellectual ability. The results have been remark- able. Many of these people now have jobs. Others are increasing their skills and education. All are leading fuller, happier lives than anyone imagined possible. Caring and Courage The change has been good for the community, as well. Neighbor- hoods with group homes have found themselves enriched — made aware of the variety of life and the human capacity for caring and courage. One mother says, “It has a lot of value for my children’s growth.” Property Values Secure As for property values (and it’s all right to ask about that), municipal authorities say group homes have no impact on neighbor- hood real estate prices. Burnaby. Mayor Bill Copeland says, “The fears of property values dropping have been unfounded. That just hasn’t happened.” Not everyone has the opportu- nity to live near a group home. But if you do, we think you’l] find that, in many ways, it brings new life to the neighborhood. eS Z Ministry of Social Services and Housing Honourable Peter A. Dueck, Minister