# Northwestern Garter Snake (*Thamnophis ordinoides*) The Northwestern Garter Snake is a small, colorful snake that loves to slither around in the grass. It has stripes that can be green, blue, or yellow, making it look very pretty in nature! - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 13 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Northwestern Garter Snake](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Thamnophis_ordinoides.jpg&width=800) Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thamnophis_ordinoides.jpg) ## Appearance The Northwestern Garter Snake is a small, slender reptile, typically dark brown or black with a faint or absent dorsal stripe. Its sides often feature distinctive red or orange blotches, making it visually unique among garter snakes. The belly is usually a pale yellow or grey. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Thamnophis ## Interesting facts - Some of these snakes look like fire with bright reddish spots on their sides! - These snakes love to hide under rocks or logs to stay safe and warm. - They can have up to 20 live baby snakes, called "snakelets," at once! - They often hunt slugs and worms, making them garden helpers! ## Special abilities - **Camouflage Master:** Northwestern Garter Snake has highly variable skin patterns that help them blend seamlessly into various natural backgrounds, avoiding predators. - **Live Birth:** Northwestern Garter Snake can give birth to live young, not eggs, which helps their babies survive better in cooler environments. - **Stinky Defense:** Northwestern Garter Snake can release a strong, unpleasant-smelling musk when threatened, deterring most potential predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-70 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-0.15 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-8 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 3 km/h ## Diet & Feeding A tiny hunter, mainly eating small amphibians, worms, and slugs. - **Primary Foods:** slugs, earthworms, small frogs, salamanders, newts - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Large birds of prey frequently hunt garter snakes from above. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Opportunistic omnivores that prey on snakes encountered at night. - **Hunts:** [Northwestern Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northwestern-salamander) (*Ambystoma gracile*) — Young salamanders and their larvae are a common food source. - **Hunts:** [Leopard Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard-slug) (*Limax maximus*) — Slugs are a frequently hunted invertebrate prey item for this snake. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [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. ## 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 Northwestern 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 Northwestern Garter Snake? 30-70 cm ### How much does Northwestern Garter Snake weigh? 0.05-0.15 kg ### How long does Northwestern Garter Snake live? 5-8 years ### How fast can Northwestern Garter Snake move? 8 km/h ### What does Northwestern Garter Snake eat? A tiny hunter, mainly eating small amphibians, worms, and slugs. ### How fast can Northwestern Garter Snake swim? 3 km/h ### Where is Northwestern Garter Snake usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cougar-mountain-regional-wildland-park) — Washington, US · Park - [E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/e-e-wilson-wildlife-area) — Oregon, US · Nature Reserve - [Marymoor Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/marymoor-park) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [Englishman River Falls Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/englishman-river-falls-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Aurora Colony](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/aurora-colony) — Oregon, US · Neighborhood - [Capitol State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capitol-state-forest) — Washington, US · Forest [View all places to see Northwestern Garter Snake](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northwestern-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: [Northwestern Garter Snake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northwestern-garter-snake)