Common
Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
Found
across Canada and the USA, from the Pacific to the Atlantic
coasts, the common garter snake is the most widely distributed
North American snake. They are called garter snakes because of the
patterning on their sides, which resembles that of garters once
worn by men to hold up their socks.
Garter
snakes range in length from 60 to 80 cm, while some have reached
lengths of over 135 cm. Their colour varies greatly, from green or
grey to almost black, but they usually have noticeable side and
back stripes. Several subspecies have been defined, although even
within these subspecies there is colour variability.
The
patterning of the garter snake allows it to blend into its
surroundings, which is generally quite varied and irregularly
coloured. The striping makes it less visible when moving through
the vegetation - the continuous line belying its movement.
Some
snakes bear live, fully formed young, while other snakes lay eggs
that later hatch. Garter snakes give birth to live young in late
summer. Although one litter was recorded at 98 babies, most garter
snakes give birth to between 20 and 40 babies per litter.
Despite
their harmless nature, many people fear garter snakes. And yet
these docile creatures play an important role in your garden's
ecosystem - they eat earthworms, frogs, and mice, among other
things. In turn, they provide an important food source for many
birds and mammals. The red-shouldered hawk, in particular, relies
on the collection of snakes to help feed their young during the
nesting season.
A
garter snake's first instinct when faced with an oncoming
predator, such as man, is to hide. Most times you won't even know
that there are snakes around. If backed into a corner, many snakes
will try to bluff their way out through a show of temper. It is
only once picked up that garter snakes will attempt to bite. They
will also release a foul-smelling musky liquid as a form of
defence.
Contrary
to common belief, snakes are not slimy. As a reptile, snakes have
a protective outer layer of scales, which are made from the same
material as our fingernails - keratin. It is amphibians, such as
frogs, that have a "slimy" feel.
Garter
snakes have adapted to a variety of habitats - forests, streams,
fields, wetlands, and even urban areas. To make them feel at home
in your garden offer areas of dense foliage close to the ground.
This provides them with safe areas for feeding and shelter. Piles
of logs or leaves are other appealing hiding spots for snakes.
Be
sure to add a rock pile or rock wall near sheltered areas. Snakes
are cold-blooded, which means they are dependent on outside
sources of heat to warm their bodies. A warm rock in the sun is a
great place for them to soak up some heat.
In
the winter snakes hibernate. Incapable of long migrations, snakes
must find a suitable hibernaculum in the vicinity of their summer
haunts. They require a secure den with a low temperature that
remains above freezing. Because they are susceptible to loss of
body water, their hibernation site must also be close to the water
table (but not flooded). A lack of adequate hibernacula is a
limiting factor in the success of snake populations.
Some
interesting snake facts:
