Terrestrial Gartersnake
Terrestrial Gartersnake
Thamnophis elegans
Thamnophis elegans
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Population, Conservation Status, Threats:
Considered least concern by the IUCN, with stable populations. Threats include habitat loss and fragmentation, road mortality, and persecution by humans who see snakes as dangerous or undesirable.
Physical Description:
Terrestrial garter snakes present with a wide variety of different colors and patterns. Generally they are brown-green to gray or black, with a lighter belly and two to three yellow stripes running down the length of their body, one running along their spine, and two running parallel down their sides. Spotted or mottled patterning, or reddish coloration, may be seen. All-black melanistic forms are also occasionally found.
Overall terrestrial gartersnake range from Montana Field Guide. Terrestrial gartersnakes are found in the western United States and parts of Canada, primarily in lower elevations with sufficient water sources.
Habitat:
Despite their name, terrestrial gartersnakes are most often found by water, though their habitat preferences are wide-ranging, from lowland riparian areas to mountain ponds and even drier meadows and grasslands.
Behavior:
Like most snakes, gartersnakes are solitary throughout most of the year. However, during the winter, large groups of snakes will congregate in hibernacula to overwinter together, sometimes migrating distances of up to two miles between hibernation sites and feeding grounds. They are known to hunt on land and in and around water. When threatened, they will release a pungent foul-smelling musk from glands near the cloaca to attempt to deter predators. Terrestrial gartersnakes are mildly venomous, though their venom poses little threat to humans.
Diet:
Terrestrial gartersnakes are carnivores, but will take a wide variety of animal prey. Common prey items include amphibians, annelids like leeches and earthworms, and even small vertebrates.
Reproduction:
Gartersnakes breed after emerging from group hibernacula. Gartersnakes are ovoviviparous, meaning the female keeps the young inside of her throughout gestation, and gives live birth. Around a dozen young are born anytime from late summer to early fall, after which they disperse and the young are left to fend for themselves with no further parental engagement.
Associated Species:
Known to prey upon leeches. Many animals that hunt in and around water will take gartersnakes as prey as readily as fish or amphibians, including great blue herons and raccoons.
Illustration by Willow Sedam
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