There are a few key characteristics that can be used to identify many types of Garter Snakes. Every garter snake has keeled scales and small heads with large eyes. Many species are brown or black in base color. They then have a series of lighter stripes running down the length of their body.[1]
What Is The Difference Between A Garden Snake And A Garter Snake?
There is no difference between a garter snake and a garden snake. Both names refer to the same species, the Thamnophis sirtalis, which is the most common non-venomous reptile in North America. While they vary in color, garter snakes are easily recognizable for 3 lines that run through their bodies.[2]
What Snake Looks Like A Garter Snake?
Ribbon snakes resemble the closely-related eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), however ribbon snakes are generally more slender, have unpatterned lip scales, and the lateral stripes are found on scale rows 3 and 4 (in garter snakes they are on rows 2 and 3). They have a plain yellowish belly, and keeled scales.[3]
What Time Of Day Are Garter Snakes Most Active?
Considering they spend the winter hibernating, a potential run-in with a garter snake will most likely occur during the late spring and summer. These pests are also primarily active during the warmer hours of the day, like the afternoon, which is when they leave their dens to hunt and bask in the warm sunlight.[4]
How Do You Tell The Difference Between A Garter Snake And A Ribbon Snake?
Some garter snakes have more blue or black present in their scales, as well as checkered patterns or stripes. Ribbon snakes will not have as many distinct markings. While both of these snakes are relatively slender and long, the ribbon snake is thinner than a garter snake.[5]
What Is The Difference Between A Garter Snake And A Butler Snake
Young Butler’s garter snakes are born at from 12.5 to 18.5 cm. Other garter snakes have somewhat longer and larger heads than do Butler’s garter snakes. Other sympatric garter snake species can be distinguished from Butler’s garter snakes by the position of the lateral (side) stripes relative to the dorsal scale rows.[6]
Is Butler’S Garter Snake Venomous?
The Butler’s Gartersnake is a small, non-venomous snake, 25 to 57 centimetres long. It has a tiny head and yellow to orange stripes running lengthwise on a dark brown-black background. It looks very similar to the Common Gartersnake and is difficult to distinguish.[7]
How Do You Tell If A Snake Is A Garter Snake?
Common garter snakes are highly variable in color pattern. They typically have three light stripes that run along the length of their body on a black, brown, gray, or olive background. The stripes can be white, yellow, blue, greenish, or brown.[8]
Is There A Poisonous Snake That Looks Like A Garter Snake?
Ribbon snakes resemble the closely-related eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), however ribbon snakes are generally more slender, have unpatterned lip scales, and the lateral stripes are found on scale rows 3 and 4 (in garter snakes they are on rows 2 and 3). They have a plain yellowish belly, and keeled scales.[9]
Is A Garter Snake And Ribbon Snake The Same Thing?
Is a garter snake the same as a ribbon snake? No, garter snakes are not the same as ribbon snakes, though ribbon snakes are a type of garter snake. They are closely related species, but they are not the same species.[10]
What Does An Eastern Garter Snake Eat
Diet. Common garter snakes typically eat earthworms , amphibians, leeches, slugs, snails, insects, crayfish, small fish and other snakes. They seem immune to the toxic skin secretions of toads and can eat them without harm. Occasionally small mammals, lizards, or baby birds are eaten as well.[11]
What Do You Feed Eastern Garter Snakes?
What to Feed to Garter Snakes. Wild garter snakes eat a varied diet containing worms, amphibians, fish, eggs, snails, and rodents. While captive garter snakes can be fed predominantly frozen thawed rodents, occasionally they can be offered other prey items such as earthworms, fresh whole feeder fish, frogs, or toads.[12]
Are Garter Snakes Good To Have Around?
Garter snakes are a gardener’s friend! Harmless to humans, they eat the pests that wreak havoc in your garden. Learn more about the shy but helpful gardening helper who just wants to live peacefully in harmony with you—and eat your slugs![13]
What Do Garter Snakes Mostly Eat?
Diet. Beane said that garter snakes “feed mostly on fishes, amphibians, and earthworms; other prey are occasionally taken.” The snakes immobilize their prey with their sharp teeth and quick reflexes. The saliva of some species contains a mild neurotoxin that causes paralysis, making small prey easier to swallow.Dec 10, 2014[14]
Are Eastern Garter Snakes Aggressive?
Garter snakes are non-venomous, but can be fairly aggressive and will readily strike and bite, sometimes causing an allergic reaction in humans. If handled or attacked, they will release a foul-smelling musk.[15]
How Much Should I Feed My Garter Snake
Adult snakes can be fed once every 7-10 days. Immature, growing, or pregnant snakes should be fed every 4-5 days. Live prey should never be offered, as they can bite and injure the snake.Dec 15, 2017[16]
How Many Worms Does A Garter Snake Eat?
A baby snake should get two or three small earthworms collected from the garden, or one-quarter to one-third of a large bait store nightcrawler, or a few feeder guppies, or one large feeder platy, or one-quarter to one-half of a pinky mouse.Mar 26, 2014[17]
What Should You Feed Your Garter Snake?
Garter snakes benefit from a varied diet to ensure proper nutrition. Juvenile snakes can eat a combination of feeder guppies, minnows, earthworms and fish fillet pieces; feed the juvenile snakes every other day. Mature snakes should eat small rodents, such as mice or pinkies, but they only need food once a week.Oct 12, 2020[18]
What Do Garter Snakes Eat The Most?
Diet. Common garter snakes typically eat earthworms , amphibians, leeches, slugs, snails, insects, crayfish, small fish and other snakes. They seem immune to the toxic skin secretions of toads and can eat them without harm. Occasionally small mammals, lizards, or baby birds are eaten as well.[19]
How Much Do You Feed A Baby Garter Snake?
Assume two to four fish or worms per feeding, per snake, and assume two feedings per week, and you’re looking at around 100 to 200 live fish or small worms each week. That’s a lot of money spent at Big Al’s or time spent digging in the garden![20]
What Species Of Garter Snake Is In Alaska
The common garter snake is the only species of snake to be found in Alaska, and is one of the northernmost species of snake in the world, possibly second only to the Crossed Viper.Sep 30, 2013[21]
Does Alaska Have Garter Snakes?
The common garter snake is the only species of snake found in Alaska, he said. It can be found as far up as northern Canada, he said. No snakes have been recorded living in the wild in the Kenai Peninsula, according to Selinger. But he added that it doesn’t mean people can’t have them as indoor pets.[22]
Is There A Poisonous Snake That Looks Like A Garter Snake?
Ribbon snakes resemble the closely-related eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), however ribbon snakes are generally more slender, have unpatterned lip scales, and the lateral stripes are found on scale rows 3 and 4 (in garter snakes they are on rows 2 and 3). They have a plain yellowish belly, and keeled scales.[23]
What Type Of Garter Snake Is This?
The California red-sided garter snake is native to the coast of California. Where the red-sided garter snake has clear red patterning down its sides, the California red-sided garter snake has vibrant, distinct stripes that instantly identify it.[24]
What Poisonous Snakes Live In Alaska?
There are no venomous snakes in Alaska.[25]
How Many Years Does A Garter Snake Have
Common gartersnakes do not reproduce until two years of age, and they can live up to 10 years.Mar 9, 2018[26]
How Long Does Garter Snake Live?
Females give birth to a litter of 10 to 40 live young in summer. Young are five to nine inches long at birth. Garter snakes typically live 3 to 4 years.[27]
What Is The Longest Garter Snake Ever Recorded?
The largest garter snake ever recorded was a red-sided garter that measured 52.8 inches. According to an article published by CBC NEWS on May 19, 2006, the discovery was made by Jonathan Wiens, a master of science student at the University of Manitoba.[28]
How Many Babies Does A Garter Snake Have?
Most litters range from 10 to 40 young and litter size depends on the size of the female, with larger females giving birth to larger litters. Upon birth, baby garter snakes are independent and must find food on their own. Common garter snakes breed once each year.[29]
How Big Was The Largest Garter Snake
What is the Largest Garter Snake Ever Recorded? The largest garter snake ever recorded was a red-sided garter that measured 52.8 inches.Jun 11, 2022[30]
Resources
[1]https://www.everythingreptiles.com/types-of-garter-snakes/
[2]https://survivalfreedom.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-garter-snake-and-a-garden-snake/
[3]https://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/thasau.htm
[4]https://www.terminix.com/blog/education/are-garter-snakes-poisonous/
[5]https://a-z-animals.com/blog/ribbon-snake-vs-garter-snake/
[6]http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Thamnophis_butleri/
[7]https://www.ontario.ca/page/butlers-gartersnake
[8]http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Thamnophis_sirtalis/
[9]https://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/thasau.htm
[10]https://a-z-animals.com/blog/ribbon-snake-vs-garter-snake/
[11]https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/vermont-critters/reptiles/common-garter-snake
[12]https://www.petmd.com/reptile/species/garter-snake
[13]https://www.almanac.com/garter-snakes-gardeners-friend
[14]https://www.livescience.com/44072-garter-snake.html
[15]https://www.chesapeakebay.net/S%3D0/fieldguide/critter/eastern_garter_snake
[16]https://www.petmd.com/reptile/species/garter-snake
[17]http://www.gartersnake.info/care/feeding.php
[18]https://allanspetcenter.com/how-to-care-for-your-garter-snake/
[19]https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/vermont-critters/reptiles/common-garter-snake
[20]http://www.gartersnake.info/articles/2006/the-seven-rules-of-raising-baby-garter-snakes.php
[21]https://ktna.org/2013/09/natural-observations-snakes-in-alaska/
[22]https://www.newsminer.com/news/alaska_news/kasilof-man-finds-snake-in-backyard/article_bfabf992-8395-11e3-bdc8-001a4bcf6878.html
[23]https://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/thasau.htm
[24]https://a-z-animals.com/blog/garter-snake-morphs-discover-the-25-types-of-garter-snake-breeds/
[25]https://bestlifeonline.com/venomous-snakes-your-state-news/
[26]https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Fact-Sheets/Common-Gartersnake
[27]https://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/field-guide/entry/eastern_garter_snake
[28]https://a-z-animals.com/blog/discover-the-largest-garter-snake-ever-recorded/
[29]http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Thamnophis_sirtalis/
[30]https://a-z-animals.com/blog/discover-the-largest-garter-snake-ever-recorded/