Identifying the garter snake becomes easy through the presence of stripes. Most types of garter snakes exhibit three prominent stripes that cover their entire bodies. These stripes run in a central strip along the middle part of the back and two on each side of their bodies. The stripe color ranges from yellow, greenish, white, or light brown, standing out prominently from the overall dark body color.
Body Color and Pattern
Garter snakes can be seen in a range of colors such as black, brown, olive, gray, and greenish. Many have checkerboard marks or red stripes between the other stripes. While garter snakes may appear bright in their patterns, some species tend to look dull or without any stripes at all.
Size and Shape
As for body size, garter snakes are much slimmer and lighter than other snakes. Most measure up to 2 to 4 feet long, with bodies that are rather long while their heads are smaller and somewhat narrower than the rest of the body. Moreover, unlike most venomous snakes, the head is not large and not shaped like a triangle.
Eyes and Scales
The typical feature of garter snake eyes is that the pupil is round-shaped, while the scales are keeled, meaning there is a ridge-like texture. Furthermore, the tongue of these snakes has black tips, while the remainder is colored red.
Behavior
Garter snakes are quite harmless creatures that will never attack if approached by a person. Instead, they tend to escape when bothered, although sometimes, to protect themselves, they flatten their bodies or release a bad-smelling musk. Garter snakes are diurnal, so one can see them sunbathing on stones or grassy areas.
Habitat
These snakes prefer gardens, grassy meadows, forests, swamps, and regions close to ponds or streams. Moisture is preferred since this type of snake feeds mostly on frogs, earthworms, insects, slugs, and tiny fish. Garter snakes are usually spotted in backyard gardens or near water sources during warmer weather periods.
Garter Snake vs. Ribbon Snake
Since garter snakes and ribbon snakes share the same striping characteristic, one should learn to distinguish these species. Ribbon snakes look slenderer and more fragile. In addition, they have brighter coloration and clean stripes. Another difference is the presence of a white patch before the eye in garter snakes. Also, ribbon snakes have a higher position of side stripes.
Safety Note
Despite the fact that garter snakes are harmless, do not touch any wild snake unless you know for sure that it does not pose a threat. Some harmless snakes may mimic the appearance of venomous ones, making observation from a safe distance much better.
Disclaimer: Snake appearances can vary depending on species and region. Avoid touching or handling any wild snake unless identified by an expert, as some nonvenomous snakes may resemble venomous ones.
