Common Garter Snakes: Size, Bite Information, Pictures, and Facts

All About Common Garter Snakes

The Common Garter Snake is the most widespread snake in North America and probably the snake most people encounter in their daily lives. Found in every state in the continental United States and across much of Canada, these striped snakes show up in backyards, gardens, parks, and pretty much anywhere there is food and shelter. They are harmless, fascinating, and actually quite beneficial to have around. Here is everything you need to know about these familiar reptiles.

Identification

Common Garter Snakes are medium sized snakes that typically reach 2 to 3 feet in length, though some individuals can reach up to 4 feet. They have slender bodies with a distinctive striped pattern: three light colored stripes (usually yellow, but sometimes white, green, or blue) running the length of the body against a darker background of black, brown, or olive. Between the stripes, many Garter Snakes have a checkered pattern of dark spots.

Color varies significantly depending on location. Some populations are brightly colored with vivid yellow or red stripes, while others are drab olive or brown with barely visible stripes. This variation can make identification tricky, but the three stripe pattern is the most reliable feature across all populations.

Range and Habitat

Common Garter Snakes live in almost every habitat type across North America, from sea level to mountain meadows above 9,000 feet. They are found in forests, grasslands, wetlands, suburban yards, city parks, and agricultural fields. They are often found near water since amphibians and fish make up a significant portion of their diet, but they are not limited to wet areas.

Their ability to tolerate cool temperatures better than most snakes allows them to range farther north than nearly any other reptile in North America. Some populations survive in southern Canada where winters are harsh and the active season is short.

Diet

Garter Snakes eat a varied diet that makes them excellent garden companions. They eat slugs, earthworms, frogs, toads, salamanders, small fish, mice, and insects. Their willingness to eat slugs and pest insects makes them a gardener’s best friend. If you have Garter Snakes in your yard, your slug and pest population is being kept in check for free.

Unlike many snakes that use constriction or venom to subdue prey, Garter Snakes simply grab and swallow their food. They do produce a mild venom in their saliva that helps immobilize small prey like frogs, but this venom is not dangerous to humans. At most, a Garter Snake bite might cause minor itching or swelling, similar to a bee sting.

Behavior

Garter Snakes are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. You will often see them basking in sunny spots in the morning to warm up, then hunting through the afternoon. They are generally docile snakes that tolerate being near humans. Many become quite comfortable around people and will continue basking or hunting even when watched from a few feet away.

When threatened, Garter Snakes may flee, flatten their body to appear larger, release a foul smelling musk from glands near their tail, or strike. Their bite is harmless but can be startling. The musk is their most effective defense and is truly unpleasant. If you have ever picked up a Garter Snake and immediately regretted it because of the smell, you have experienced this firsthand.

One of the most remarkable Garter Snake behaviors is their communal hibernation. In colder regions, hundreds or even thousands of Garter Snakes gather in underground dens called hibernacula to spend the winter together. When they emerge in spring, the mating frenzy that follows is one of nature’s most dramatic reptile events.

Garter Snakes as Pets

Garter Snakes can make interesting pets, especially for beginners. They stay small, are easy to feed (they will eat fish, worms, and frozen thawed mice), and are generally handleable once they get used to you. Captive bred specimens are much calmer than wild caught ones. They do require a secure enclosure with a water dish large enough to soak in, appropriate heating, and hiding spots. They are live bearers, so if you keep males and females together, baby snakes are a possibility.

Are Garter Snakes Dangerous?

No. Garter Snakes are completely harmless to humans and pets. Their mild venom is only effective on their tiny prey and causes nothing more than slight irritation if they bite a person. They are nonvenomous for all practical purposes. If you find one in your yard, there is no reason to kill or remove it. They are actively beneficial to your property by eating pests, and they pose zero threat to children, pets, or adults.