Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
Eastern Garter Snake
Description: The Eastern Garter Snake a yellow, white, or creamy stripe down the center of its back, and this stripe is bordered with a much thicker black stripe on each side. Below these, there is a variable colored stripe under the black ones that can be golden yellow, orange, whitish, or yellow. Underneath it is pale yellow. The scales are keeled or have a ridge down each one. The belly scales are wider and smooth. Their tongue is red with a black forked tip. Occasionally completely black garter snakes will turn up, these lack the other pigments in their scales.
Diet: Young garter snakes eat mainly earthworms and slugs; larger individuals eat frogs, toads, salamanders, fish, slugs and earthworms. Adult and baby mice are occasionally taken. They hunt during the day, actively chasing prey such as frogs.
Disposition: Normally disappears into the grass but if pressed they will coil up, open their mouths and strike. If handled they may bite or expel musk but tame quickly if allowed to calm. As with most snakes, temperature, hunger and the need to shed can affect their aggressiveness.
Habitat: Streams, rivers, swamps, fields, open woodlands, lawns, gardens and rocky hillsides. Often found under sheet metal, boards, trash, and flat rocks. These snakes hibernate in groups, sometimes large ones, these locations include rock crevices, natural cavities, animal burrows and foundations.
Reproduction: In spring when the ground warms up, males emerge and wait for the females who come out a few days later. The males collect around females and attempt to mate, forming a mating ball.
Diet: Young garter snakes eat mainly earthworms and slugs; larger individuals eat frogs, toads, salamanders, fish, slugs and earthworms. Adult and baby mice are occasionally taken. They hunt during the day, actively chasing prey such as frogs.
Disposition: Normally disappears into the grass but if pressed they will coil up, open their mouths and strike. If handled they may bite or expel musk but tame quickly if allowed to calm. As with most snakes, temperature, hunger and the need to shed can affect their aggressiveness.
Habitat: Streams, rivers, swamps, fields, open woodlands, lawns, gardens and rocky hillsides. Often found under sheet metal, boards, trash, and flat rocks. These snakes hibernate in groups, sometimes large ones, these locations include rock crevices, natural cavities, animal burrows and foundations.
Reproduction: In spring when the ground warms up, males emerge and wait for the females who come out a few days later. The males collect around females and attempt to mate, forming a mating ball.