How to Identify Garter Snakes
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In fact, they are so common around homes they often get the nick-name garden snake.
All garter snakes are characterized as small (two to three feet), thin and colorfully striped.
Florida has blue garter snakes, Texas has Checkered Garter Snakes, the West Coast has different versions of red garter snakes.
Apart from the species that have unusual field markings, multiple, similar looking, species can be found in many areas of the United States, sometimes making for identification problems.
Garter snake identification can be easy with a good picture. The suggestion may sound a bit frightening, however, keep in mind that garter snakes are typically unaggressive species with less than great eyesight.
They generally feel vibrations in the ground as their first indication of a human presence. Treading lightly and move slowly, makes it pretty easy to get within inches of one for a picture.
Once the picture is in hand, identification starts by noticing the color of the stripes running down its back, the color of its belly, and its facial markings.
The first and second pictures shows the Red-sided Garter snake, the first from a distance, the second from close-up. The close-up shows the snake's reddish color face, with the exception of the light color end of the lower jaw.
The third picture of a Northwestern Garter snake (Thamnophis ordinoides) was taken at close range using a flash. Sometimes they are called a Mountain Garter Snake, however, they should not be confused with Thamnophis elegans elegans, the Mountain Garter Snake of Northern and Central California.
Usually there are no more than a handful of garter species in any one area. With picture in hand and the use of a local reptile guide that also includes pictures, identification skills can only improve.The Valley Garter Snake and Mountain Garter Snake links in the box on the right point to additional western species.
© 2007-2008. Patricia A. Michaels