Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

The Garter Snake is a friendly little snake that can be found in many gardens! They are often striped and can be different colors.

Habitat: Gardens, fields, and forests

Appearance

The Garter Snake has a slender body, often featuring three light-colored stripes—yellow, white, blue, or green—running down its back and sides. These stripes contrast with a darker background of black, brown, or olive, sometimes with a checkerboard pattern between them.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataOrderSerpentesFamilyColubridaeGenusThamnophis

Garter Snake

Interesting facts

Garter snakes can be found further north than almost any other reptile in North America!

Many garter snakes hibernate together in a huge “snake pile” called a hibernaculum!

Some garter snakes can eat super poisonous newts and not get sick at all!

They often flash their tongues to “smell” their surroundings, like a built-in sniffer!

Special abilities

Garter Snakes have stripes that help them blend perfectly into tall grass or rocky ground, hiding from predators.

Garter Snakes can release a stinky, foul-smelling musk when scared, making predators want to leave them alone.

Garter Snakes give birth to tiny live snakelets, keeping their babies safe inside their body until they are ready to be born.

Some Garter Snakes have a special immunity to the potent toxins found in certain newts they eat!

Measurements & details

Length: 46-137 cm
Weight: 0.1-0.3 kg
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Top Speed: 5 km/h
Swim Speed: 1.5 km/h

Diet & Feeding

Garter snakes are keen hunters, feasting on small prey like earthworms, frogs, and sometimes fish!

Primary Foods

Earthworms
Slugs
Frogs
Toads
Salamanders
Small Fish

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

hunts

Northern Leopard Frog

Lithobates pipiens

A common meal, especially tadpoles and small frogs.

eats

Common Earthworm

Lumbricus terrestris

A primary and easily accessible food source for garter snakes.

eaten by

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

A common aerial predator that hunts snakes from above.

eaten by

Striped Skunk

Mephitis mephitis

Known to dig up and eat hibernating garter snakes.

eats

Rough-skinned Newt

Taricha granulosa

Some garter snake populations have evolved immunity to its toxins.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Striped

Look for animals and plants with cool lines and bands, creating eye-catching patterns!

Insectivorous

Discover clever creatures that specialize in munching on insects, playing a super important role in keeping bug populations in check. They are nature's tiny bug vacuums!