This has been the most interesting thread! Were I live in BC we have racers, bull snakes, rubber boas, garter snakes and wandering garter snakes. We also have rattlesnakes a little further south. One day my husband was outside and came across a garter snake. Our 5 year old was outside at the time and my husband told him to come over and see the snake. When my son reached down to pick up the snake it coiled up and bit him on the hand. My husband was so surprised and shocked he killed the snake with a shovel. It turns out the snake was a wandering garter snake and they are very aggressive. Our son has been leery of snakes to this day.