# 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. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 375 - **Habitat:** Gardens, fields, and forests - **Also known as:** Common Garter Snake, Eastern Garter Snake, Garden Snake, Garter Snakes, Western Garter Snake ![Garter Snake](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426328/objects/5596.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Thamnophis ## 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 - **Striped Camouflage:** Garter Snakes have stripes that help them blend perfectly into tall grass or rocky ground, hiding from predators. - **Musky Defense:** Garter Snakes can release a stinky, foul-smelling musk when scared, making predators want to leave them alone. - **Live Birth:** Garter Snakes give birth to tiny live snakelets, keeping their babies safe inside their body until they are ready to be born. - **Venom Immunity:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rough-skinned-newt) (*Taricha granulosa*) — Some garter snake populations have evolved immunity to its toxins. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify 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 Garter Snake? 46-137 cm ### How much does Garter Snake weigh? 0.1-0.3 kg ### How long does Garter Snake live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Garter Snake move? 5 km/h ### What does Garter Snake eat? Garter snakes are keen hunters, feasting on small prey like earthworms, frogs, and sometimes fish! ### How fast can Garter Snake swim? 1.5 km/h ### Where is Garter Snake usually found? Gardens, fields, and forests ## Where to spot - [Ames Nowell State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ames-nowell-state-park) — Massachusetts, US · State Park - [Arnold Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arnold-arboretum) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Bainbridge Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bainbridge-commercial-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Bald Eagle State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bald-eagle-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest - [Barrington Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrington-civic-center-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Bean Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bean-hill-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District [View all places to see Garter Snake](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/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: [Garter Snake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garter-snake)