Eastern Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis

by Jeff LeClere

Status

No status assigned in Minnesota.

Description

The eastern garter snake is a medium sized Minnesota snake measuring 14 to 48 inches in length. It is non-venomous and some specimens can be less docile than the plains garter snake. The ground color is light brown to black with two alternating rows of black spots. Some specimens have a lighter background color in which the spots stand out especially well. There are three longitudinal stripes. The dorsal stripe is usually yellow. The lateral stripes are cream to yellow and are located on the second and third scale rows. There is usually a row of black spots below the lateral stripes. The belly may be white, yellowish, or bluish. The head is brown or black with one or two small yellow dots near the parietals scales atop the head (these may be absent) and none or very few dark black bars on the labial scales. The scales are keeled and the anal plate is single.

Subspecies

There are two subspecies of the eastern garter snake that are found in Minnesota. The eastern garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, usually has white, mint green, orange or red on the skin BETWEEN the scales, usually only visible when the skin is stretched such as after a large meal. The red-sided garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis, is very similar differing only by the presence of bold red bars or spots on the sides between the dorsal and lateral scales. This red coloration is usually visible without any stretching of the skin. Both of these subspecies are also called "common" garter snakes.

Range

According to Conant and Collins (1991), the eastern garter snake is basically found in eastern Minnesota while the red-sided garter snake inhabits the western portion of the state. These subspecies intergrade heavily in central Minnesota. Individuals also vary in coloration, thus specimens resembling either subspecies may be found anywhere in the state. This snake is found statewide.

Habitat

The eastern garter snake is one of Minnesota's most common snakes. They occur almost anywhere there is adequate food and shelter. They are extremely adaptable to environmental changes like the plains garter snake. Unlike the plains garter snake, however, the majority prefer moist habitats, and may be found at the waters' edge. Open plains, grasslands, and forests or forest edge are favorite natural haunts. City parks, vacant lots, farmlands, or suburban backyards are also utilized.

Habits

This is a diurnal, active snake that may be more aggressive than the plains garter snake. In addition to biting, it often expels a foul smelling musk and excretement to dissuade enemies. If cornered, it may strike (but its bite is painless), or it may hide its head under its coils, raise its tail in the air, and slowly wag its tail back and forth. They are active thermoregulators and will alternately hunt and bask throughout the day. They take refuge underneath logs, rocks, boards, and in mammal burrows. They breed in the spring and the young are born alive in late summer or autumn. There may be 10-70 or more in a litter and are 5-8 inches in length. A female found roadkilled in Stevens County, MN on June 13 contained 36 growing follicles. They may hibernate with other species of snakes and use any place they can get below the frost line. Road embankments, mammal burrows, and basements are common hibernaculums. Great numbers of these snakes may be seen crossing roads in October as they migrate to their hibernaculums.

Food

Eastern garter snakes are voracious feeders and will eat anything they can catch and swallow. Earthworms, fish, frogs, toads, salamanders, mice, and birds' eggs are consumed. These snakes eat carrion and will eat dead animals of many kinds that are small enough to swallow. I found and removed a specimen in Scott County, MN from the road two or three times as it attempted to eat a very old DOR frog. Usually the warmer they are, the more kinds of food they will accept. They eat their prey without constriction or venom, thus they have strong jaws to overpower their prey.