# Butler's Garter Snake (*Thamnophis butleri*) Butler's Garter Snake is a small, friendly snake that loves to slither through grass and wetlands. They have beautiful stripes and are often found near water, making them special in their habitat. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Butler's Garter Snake](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Thamnophis_butleri.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alkatar at English Wikipedia, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thamnophis_butleri.jpg) ## Appearance The Butler's Garter Snake is a small, slender snake featuring three prominent light stripes (often yellow or orange) on a dark brown or black body. Its unique visual identifier is that the lateral stripes are located on the second and third scale rows, lower than most garter snakes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Thamnophis ## Interesting facts - Baby Butler's Garter Snakes are born ready to hunt, no need for parental care! - Look closely! Their side stripes are unusually low on their body, making them unique. - They are one of the smallest garter snakes, fitting in tight spaces easily! - They can be found in isolated pockets of wet prairies, surviving despite habitat loss. ## Special abilities - **Stealthy Stripes:** Butler's Garter Snake has unique striped patterns that help them disappear into tall grass and marshy plants. - **Live Birth:** Butler's Garter Snake can give birth to live young, which helps them protect their babies from predators. - **Stinky Defense:** Butler's Garter Snake can release a musky, smelly liquid when threatened, which helps them deter predators. - **Wetland Hunter:** Butler's Garter Snake can hunt small prey in shallow water, helping them find food in wet habitats. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 38-51 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-0.15 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-10 years - **Speed:** 7 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 2 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-14 ## Diet & Feeding This snake is a carnivore that enjoys a meal of worms, leeches, amphibians, and small fish. - **Primary Foods:** Earthworms, Leeches, Small Frogs, Salamanders, Tadpoles, Small Fish - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — Primary food source for the snake. - **Eats:** Northern Leopard Frog (*Lithobates pipiens*) — Preys on these common amphibians. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — A common avian predator. - **Eaten by:** Striped Skunk (*Mephitis mephitis*) — Can prey on snakes and their young. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a snake, it's best to watch from a distance and not touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Butler's Garter Snake? Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Butler's Garter Snake? 38-51 cm ### How much does Butler's Garter Snake weigh? 0.05-0.15 kg ### How long does Butler's Garter Snake live? 6-10 years ### How fast can Butler's Garter Snake move? 7 km/h ### What does Butler's Garter Snake eat? This snake is a carnivore that enjoys a meal of worms, leeches, amphibians, and small fish. ### How fast can Butler's Garter Snake swim? 2 km/h ### Where is Butler's Garter Snake usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mitchell-park-horticultural-conservatory) — Wisconsin, US · Botanical Garden - [Boston-Edison Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boston-edison-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [East Ferry Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-ferry-avenue-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [New Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/new-center) — Michigan, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see Butler's Garter Snake](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/butlers-garter-snake) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Butler's Garter Snake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/butlers-garter-snake)