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Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis Photograph by Marc Verreault. Some rights reserved. (view image details) 
Garter snake Photograph by Blaine Hansel. Some rights reserved. (view image details)
COMMON GARTER SNAKE FACTS
DescriptionThe Common Garter Snake usually has a pattern of yellow stripes on a brown background. There are a number of color variations including striped, checkered and almost all black. Size 100cm - 150cm Environment Found from sea level to mountains. Habitats include forests, fields, prairies, stream margins, wetlands, meadows, marshes, ponds. They are usually found near water. Food The Common Garter Snake is semi-aquatic and can catch fish and tadpoles. It eats fish, frogs, turtles, milk snakes, birds, mammals as large as cats. Breeding The Common Garter Snake bears live young (ovoviviparous). Gestation is usually two to three months. A litter of about 10 to 40 young are born between late July and October. Range Wide range across most of eastern North America. Notes Garter Snakes have toxins in their saliva and the bite can produce mild reaction in humans. They are not considered dangerous to humans, although they excrete a foul smelling musk when handled. Classification
Relatives in same Genus Butler's Garter Snake (T. butleri) Blackneck Garter Snake (T. cyrtopsis) Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (T. elegans) Coast Garter Snake (T. elegans terrestris) Two-Striped Garter Snake (T. hammondii) Checkered Garter Snake (T. marcianus marcianus) Redstripe Ribbon Snake (T. proximus rubrilineatus) Eastern Ribbon Snake (T. sauritus sauritus) Northern Ribbon Snake (T. sauritus septentrionalis) Texas Garter Snake (T. sirtalis annectens) California Red-Sided Garter Snake (T. sirtalis infernalis) Home | Mammals | Reptiles | Birds | Insects | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Us |