Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Nonforested Landscapes

1st alternative:
      (Any Forested Upland Except Conifer Plantations (Any Size Class))
      or (Any Lowland Deciduous (Any Size Class))
   containing:
      Dead Down Woody Debris

2nd alternative:
      Grass
      or Upland Brush
      or Savanna
      or Marsh 2
      or Sedge Meadow
      or Lowland Brush

Habitat List:

view size class definitions

Literature:

Woodlands, meadows, marshes, lake edges, debris piles, and suburban backyards are all homes for this tolerant species. The garter snake shows a preference for damp places that support its favorite foods - earthworms, frogs, toads, and small fish. In urbanized areas, garter snakes seem able to live on a diet of worms.

Habitat: Ubiquitous, terrestrial; found in moist areas, forest edges, stream edges, fence rows, vacant lots, bogs, swamps, overgrown yards. One specimen found under a rock in a stream through a dark hemlock grove. Found in almost all damp environments, from river bottoms to mountain elevations.

Hibernates in holes, rock crevices, mud, anthills, rotted wood, uprooted trees, house foundations, and sometimes partially or completely submerged under streamed rocks from October to March or April.

Populations may be less dense in coniferous forests due to the acidic soils, which are not as favorable for earthworms, their main prey.

Habitat: Garter snakes are found in a wide variety of habitats including fields, marshes, forests, wood edges, rocky hillsides, edges of streams, and ponds, and developed areas such as city lots, parks, cemeteries, and suburban lawns. They seek shelter under objects such as stumps, rocks, logs, boards, wood piles, and scrap metal. Hibernation may occur singly or in large numbers in holes, rock crevices, anthills, rotten wood, mud banks, house foundations, and old stone wells (including submergence in water).