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.[1]
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.[2]
Can A Garter Snake Hurt You?
Garter snakes won’t bite you unless provoked. They won’t chase you. They are really very shy and are not looking for a fight! Garter snakes do produce a very weak venom, but the venom is so mild that it rarely has any effect on humans (it can cause light swelling in those who are allergic, however).[3]
What Attracts Garter Snakes To Your House?
Like all reptiles, garter snakes are cold-blooded creatures, so they are often found in locations that offer warmth and food. These slender snakes can enter your home through fairly small cracks. Garter snakes often snack on small mammals, too, such as mice, and small amphibians, such as toads and frogs.[4]
How To Get Rid Of Garter Snake Den
7 Ways to Get Rid of Garter SnakesTrim your bushes and mow your lawn.Remove objects and debris from your yard.Remove any sources of food for the snakes.Get chickens.Use snake repellent.Trap and relocate the snakes.Build a snake fence.[5]
How Do You Get Rid Of A Den Of Snakes?
How to Get Rid of Snakes in Your Yard1Spray With a Hose. Most snakes will not appreciate being sprayed with water. … 2Use Snake Repellent. … 3Set a Glue Trap. … 4Keep Grass Short. … 5Remove Shelter. … 6Trap With a Garbage Can. … 7Fill in Holes and Burrows. … 8Hire a Professional Pest Control Company.[6]
Why Are There So Many Garter Snakes Around My House?
Unwanted snakes, especially common garter snakes, may appear in the spring basking on your patio or front steps. Where did they come from? Often, they’ve been hiding (or overwintering) in spaces behind or under concrete steps or patios. They gain entry through cracks or holes in the house foundation.[7]
How Many Garter Snakes Are In A Den?
Garter snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they bear live young. After mating, females store sperm in their bodies until they want to fertilize their eggs. Garter snakes give birth to 20 to 40 live young at a time, though Beane pointed out that litter sizes can vary greatly.[8]
What Smell Do Garter Snakes Hate?
Clove & Cinnamon Oil
Clove and cinnamon oil emit strong scents and may deter snakes. For best results, mix them in a spray bottle and spray them any place you’ve noticed snake activity.[9]
What Do 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.[10]
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[11]
Are Garter Snakes Good To Have In Your Yard?
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![12]
Will A Garter Snake Bite You?
Though garter snakes will use their sharp teeth to catch prey, it’s very unlikely these pests will choose to bite a human. They typically only lash out at humans when they are provoked or feel threatened.[13]
What Can I Feed A Wild Garter Snake?
They prey on earthworms, small fishes, birds, rodents, mice, slugs, small mammals, frogs, toads, snails, lizards, and salamanders. Garden snakes living near the water have different diets than those living on land. So if you are getting a pet garter snake, make sure to know what it eats.[14]
How To Take Care Of A Baby Garter Snake
How to Care for Baby Garter Snakes! – YouTubewww.youtube.com › watch[15]
Can You Keep A Baby Garter Snake As A Pet?
While garter snakes are abundant in the wild, especially around bodies of water, such as lakes and streams, in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and Central America, these wild animals should not be kept as pets, as they are illegal to take from their natural habitats in most locales.[16]
What Does A Baby Garter Snake Eat?
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[17]
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!May 3, 2006[18]
What Does A Pregnant Garter Snake Look Like
ImagesView all[19]
How Can You Tell If A Garter Snake Is Pregnant?
You can tell a female has become gravid when her skin stretches, spreading out her scales. A gravid female’s appetite will increase dramatically (I feed gravid females every other day) until a week or so before giving birth, when she’ll quit eating entirely.Jan 22, 2013[20]
What Time Of Year Do Garter Snakes Have Babies?
Most females in the northern parts of their range give birth to from 4 to 80 young between late July and October. 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.[21]
How Long Do Garter Snakes Stay Pregnant?
Gestation of garter snakes is two to three months. Unlike some snake species that lay eggs, garter snakes are viviparous: they give birth to live young. About 10-70 young are born in a litter and are independent from birth.[22]
What Month Do Garter Snakes Breed?
Breeding may occur in spring or fall. Gestation is usually two to three months, although females can also store the sperm if the habitat is not right. Most females give birth to 10 to 40 live young between late July and October. Baby garter snakes are independent at birth and must find food on their own.[23]
How To Get Rid Of Garter Snake In My Yard
There are seven, humane ways to get rid of garter snakes:Trim your bushes and mow your lawn.Remove objects and debris from your yard.Remove any sources of food for the snakes.Get chickens.Use snake repellent.Trap and relocate the snakes.Build a snake fence.[24]
How Do You Get Rid Of Garter Snakes Outside?
How to Get Rid of Garter Snakes in My Garden?1Mow your lawn and remove leaves. This is one of the easiest home remedies to keep garter snakes away. … 2Remove food sources. Animals naturally like places with their favorite foods. … 3Build a fence. … 4Use garter snakes repellent. … 5Use garter snake trap.[25]
Why Do I Have Garter Snakes In My Yard?
When not resting, these snakes prefer moist, grassy areas and are often found near water, such as streams and lakes. They also like areas that provide cover, so if your yard has piles of debris, such as rocks, logs, boards or dense vegetation, you are more likely to have a garter snake infestation.[26]
Should You Remove Garter Snakes From Your Yard?
Garter snakes are relatively harmless, beneficial predators of rodents and insect pests. However, do not pick it up. Alarmed, it may give you a little nip (harmless but still a bite).[27]
What Do Garter Snakes Dislike?
Cinnamon, clove, and cedarwood essential oils will all repel snakes. (Find them all here.) It’s thought that snakes think the oils will melt the scales, so they stay away from them.[28]
How Long Does A Garter Snake Get
Adults range in size between 18 and 26 inches in length, but can measure up to 42 inches long. Juvenile garter snakes resemble adults.Mar 9, 2018[29]
How Big Does Garter Snake Grow?
Adult eastern garter snakes grow to 18 to 26 inches long with keeled (ridged) scales and variation in their coloration and patterns. Their backs are dark brown, green or olive-colored with a distinct yellow or white stripe running down the center.[30]
Resources
[1]https://survivalfreedom.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-garter-snake-and-a-garden-snake/
[2]http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Thamnophis_sirtalis/
[3]https://www.almanac.com/garter-snakes-gardeners-friend
[4]https://www.havahart.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-garter-snakes
[5]https://dengarden.com/gardening/How-to-Get-Rid-of-Garter-Snakes-Without-Killing-Them-7-Tried-and-True-Ways
[6]https://housemethod.com/pest/how-get-rid-of-snakes/
[7]https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/livingwith_wildlife/snakes/deterring.html
[8]https://www.livescience.com/44072-garter-snake.html
[9]https://smithspestmanagement.com/blog/post/how-to-get-rid-of-snakes/
[10]https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/vermont-critters/reptiles/common-garter-snake
[11]https://www.livescience.com/44072-garter-snake.html
[12]https://www.almanac.com/garter-snakes-gardeners-friend
[13]https://www.terminix.com/blog/education/are-garter-snakes-poisonous/
[14]https://kidadl.com/facts/what-do-garden-snakes-eat-feeding-your-backyard-buddies
[15]https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Dk_aViluLKF4
[16]https://www.petmd.com/reptile/species/garter-snake
[17]https://allanspetcenter.com/how-to-care-for-your-garter-snake/
[18]http://www.gartersnake.info/articles/2006/the-seven-rules-of-raising-baby-garter-snakes.php
[19]https://www.pinterest.com/pin/294422894363915204/
[20]https://reptilesmagazine.com/garter-snake-breeding/
[21]http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Thamnophis_sirtalis/
[22]https://www.fmr.org/march-%25C2%2597-snarls-snakes-spring
[23]https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/wildlife/documents/otnt-garter-snake.pdf
[24]https://dengarden.com/gardening/How-to-Get-Rid-of-Garter-Snakes-Without-Killing-Them-7-Tried-and-True-Ways
[25]https://www.floridayards.org/get-rid-of-garter-snakes-without-killing-them/
[26]https://www.havahart.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-garter-snakes
[27]https://www.almanac.com/garter-snakes-gardeners-friend
[28]https://www.diynatural.com/natural-snake-repellent/
[29]https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Fact-Sheets/Common-Gartersnake
[30]https://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/field-guide/entry/eastern_garter_snake