How to Identify Butler's Garter Snake (Identification Guide)

Key identifying features

Butler's Garter Snake (Thamnophis butleri) is a small, slender garter snake best recognized by the position of its lateral stripes, which involve the third and fourth scale rows and therefore sit higher on the sides than in most related garter snakes, a subtle but useful field mark.

Coloration & pattern

The back is typically brown, olive, or blackish-brown, with a fairly distinct yellow to orange central stripe running its length. The lateral stripes are pale yellow and positioned higher on the sides, involving the third and fourth scale rows rather than sitting low near the belly as in some other garter snakes, a subtle but useful field mark. Overall patterning tends to be simple, without heavy checkered spotting between the stripes. The belly is usually pale yellow, greenish, or cream.

Head, eyes & scales

The head is small and barely wider than the neck, an important detail since this species has a notably small head even for a garter snake. Eyes are moderate with round pupils. Scales are keeled, typically with 19 rows at midbody.

Size & body shape

Adults are relatively small, usually 15 to 28 inches (38-71 cm), with a slender build and moderately short tail compared to some other garter snakes.

Range & habitat where you'll see it

This species has a limited range centered on the western Great Lakes region, including parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and Ontario. It favors damp grassy fields, meadows, marshy edges, and vacant lots, often in habitats altered by human activity, and tends to stay close to ground cover rather than climbing or ranging far.

How to tell it apart from look-alikes

Butler's Garter Snake closely resembles the Common Garter Snake but is smaller overall and has its lateral stripes positioned higher on the sides (involving scale rows three and four) rather than confined lower to the belly on rows two and three as in the Common Garter Snake. Its notably small head relative to the body is another subtle clue. Because the two species can overlap in range and look similar at a glance, close attention to stripe placement and head size is often needed for confident identification.