Details
Thamnophis sirtalis
The common garter snake is a slender, widespread North American snake. It is often seen by day in wetlands, gardens, and grassy edges.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It inhabits Nearctic grassland, freshwater edges, forest, and urban areas. Damp grass, pond margins, stream banks, and garden cover are common sites.
Total length 46-137 cm; weight 30-150 g. A slim body carries lengthwise stripes, with colors ranging from greenish brown to black. The head is small and the snake is quick-moving.
Diurnal and usually solitary, it may gather in large numbers at winter dens in cold regions. It escapes quickly into cover when disturbed.
A carnivore, it eats earthworms, frogs, small fish, salamanders, and small invertebrates. It forages both on land and at the water's edge.
It gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs. Newborns immediately hunt small prey on their own.
It is listed as Least Concern. As a common backyard and wetland predator, it helps regulate small animal populations.
