Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Thamnophis, Species: T. sirtalis
Widely distributed throughout North America, ranging from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast, and from Canada down through much of the United States.
Look up 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, though local populations face threats from habitat fragmentation, road mortality, and intentional killing.
Physical Description
Dark body coloration with scattered light yellowish or greenish spots and speckling, featuring a noticeable head pattern with pale markings on the labial scales and round pupils.
Size & Dimensions
Specimen is estimated around 45-60 cm; typical adult species range from 46 to 137 cm in total length.
Habitat
Found in a diverse range of habitats including forests, fields, marshes, ponds, streams, and urban backyards, typically near permanent or temporary water sources.
Diet & Feeding
Eats a wide variety of prey including amphibians, earthworms, small fish, rodents, and insects, hunting actively by sight and smell.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives birth to live young), producing litters ranging from 10 to 40 or more offspring in late summer.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, though local populations face threats from habitat fragmentation, road mortality, and intentional killing.
Cultural Significance
Often kept as pets and widely studied in school science classrooms; plays an important ecological role in controlling amphibian and invertebrate populations.
Notable Features
Exhibits a coiled posture when threatened, often flattening its head and releasing a pungent musk from anal glands.