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| © istockphoto.com/Jay Akerley
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| Fast Facts: Common garter snake
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| Scientific name: |
Thamnophis sirtalis |
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| Average weight: |
150 g |
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| Average length: |
46 to 137 cm |
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| Average lifespan: |
2 years in the wild and 6 to 10 years in captivity |
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Did you know?
Female common garter snakes can have as many as 70 to 80 young in a single litter!
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Physiology
Common garter snakes can differ in appearance from region to region. Generally, they have
three stripes on their backs, one down the center and one on either side of it. These stripes
run the length of the snake’s body and can be blue, green, yellow or white. Some snakes
have an extremely visible stripe pattern on their scales, some have dark spots alongside
the stripes and some have no pattern at all.
The common garter snake has a dark, distinguishable head and a long slithery body. Its
red and black, forked tongue is used as a detection device. This snake pops its tongue out
of its mouth to collect chemicals in the air. It then places its tongue back into its mouth
and inserts the fork into a special organ, called the Jacobson’s organ, on the roof
of its mouth. The snake uses this process to detect scents like pheromones from other snakes
and their next meal.
Habitats/Behaviours
The common garter snake hibernates from late October until about early April in natural
borrows or holes and under rocks. Once it emerges from hibernation, it begins the mating
process. The common garter snake uses its tongue to seek out pheromones from potential mates.
Once successfully mated, females give birth a few months later and each litter can vary
from just a few to 80 snakes. When they are born they are about 12.5 to 23 cm long.
Common garter snakes can be found in just about any environment except water. Marshes,
fields and forests are just a few of the habitats these snakes can occupy. During the winter
months, common garter snakes hibernate in natural burrows, either in log piles or old rodent
burrows, but sometimes come out to warm up their bodies by basking in the sun.
Range
Since the common garter snake can live in just about any environment, they are
the most widespread snake in the North America. This snake can be found
throughout the continent, except in the dry southwestern states. Their range
spreads down to mountain ranges in New Mexico to northern Mexico where remote
populations are found.
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