Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Thamnophis, Species: T. sirtalis
Widely distributed throughout North America, ranging from southern Canada down through most of the United States to parts of northeastern Mexico.
Look up Common Garter Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Thamnophis, Species: T. sirtalis
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, due to very wide distribution, high adaptability, and large overall population.
Physical Description
Dark brown or blackish body background with three distinct light longitudinal stripes (one down the middle of the back and one on each side), a relatively slender body, and keeled scales.
Size & Dimensions
Estimated specimen length is around 18-24 inches (small/juvenile or subadult). Typical adult size ranges from 46 to 137 cm (18 to 54 inches).
Habitat
Highly adaptable, found in a diverse range of habitats including fields, woodlands, marshes, grasslands, agricultural lands, and urban/suburban backyards, typically near water sources.
Diet & Feeding
Active forager feeding on a wide variety of prey including earthworms, amphibians, fish, small mammals, and insects.
Reproduction
Viviparous (live-bearing), giving birth to litters typically ranging from 10 to 40+ young in late summer, with large communal mating balls often forming in the spring after emerging from brumation.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, due to very wide distribution, high adaptability, and large overall population.
Cultural Significance
Often encountered in suburban areas due to their high adaptability; popular in educational settings and beneficial for controlling garden pest populations.
Notable Features
Known for emitting a strong-smelling musk and thrashing when captured.