For half a dozen years at least, I have had a garter snake living under/near my magnolia tree. He always skeedaddled when I cut the grass, and I was careful to let him avoid the mower. Today, for the first time in mt life, I paid somebody to cut my grass. Predictably, my little buddy got tagged. Two cuts, the worst perhaps an 1/8" deep on his belly. He is limp, but still alive. I'd like to do what I can to help him recover, but have no idea what that might be. Ideas? Snake phobes need not chime in.

If possible, wounds should be washed with copious amounts of warm, soapy water, using an antibacterial soap. clean the wound with dilute povidone iodine solution, diluted to iced-tea color, flushing the wound several times, and then rinsing well with clean water. For superficial wounds, apply a light layer of antibiotic ointment and leave uncovered.

Main thing is to Keep it warm with some loose paper to hide in and make sure it has a small dish it can get water out of to drink

Please let us know if the little fella survives.....I'm curious. mike

I found a protected spot for him. Last I looked, just before the sun went down, he is still not wiggling, but his tongue is active, and he raises his head to track me. Tomorrow morning, if he is still alive and hasn't headed for greener pastures, I will see if I can tend his wounds, and maybe see if he is interested in food, perhaps a little raw egg, and water. I have an old fish tank I can put into service as a terrarium, but it on the small side for long-term maintenance.

Wouldn’t worry about food but put him in the aquarium in a warm place or with a light bulb to warm it up. Put some paper strips for it to hide in. Warmth and water and a safe hiding place is what it needs now.
It will be more comfortable and more able to heal if it is not using all its body resources to stay warm

I tip my hat to you sir. Good to help out the poor thing. Hope he makes it.

Not really a snake person, but I hope the little guy comes out well.

I do second the aquarium and light bulb. A little food and water couldn't hurt, and cleaning up the wound couldn't hurt.

ARman

If he's limp, he likely has a severed spinal cord. If so, there is no recovery.

If he just appears injured, snakes are pretty tough. Betadine or some other antiseptic on the cut, and 90 degree heat and water will get him better.

As ubiquitous as garter snakes are, they are hard to keep. It's hard to get them to feed. Small, pinky sized mice would be good. You can get those in just about any pet store that sells feeder mice. As soon as he is up and moving, let him go where he lives.

If the snake is in the same place in the open for any length of time, it is likely that the spinal cord is indeed severed. It could have been broken by the force of the impact without the slice actually doing the severing- as if someone struck your spine with a blunt object. If it is mobile after an injury, it should instinctively go to ground and recover in hiding.

You should be able to diagnose it by touching the tip of the tail. If it doesn’t respond to the stimuli, it is most likely the case unfortunately. Good luck, as garters are good to have around.

My little buddy, I named him "Legs" for obvious reasons, was not in the sheltered spot by the house where I left him over night. I'm hoping he left under his own power, and will soon be busy managing the cricket population. I'll keep an eye out for him, but frankly, I don't expect to ever see Legs again.

We found a young gopher snake trapped in a crack in the asphalt road the other day. He tried to double back and was trapped. It didn't help that a raven was taking advantage of his situation.

I got him out of the crack and moved it to the dirt and morning sun. He suffered two small punctures from the raven. Twenty minutes later it was gone. I'd like to think he moved away on his own.

God luck to your buddy