Conservation Status: Not listed

Size: 100 cm (39”)

Defining feature(s): Body colour ranges from olive green to black or dark brown.  Eastern Garter Snakes typically have one cream to yellow coloured dorsal stripe and two lateral stripes running the length of the body; however, individuals lacking the dorsal, lateral stripes or all stripes are found in different regions of Ontario.  Those lacking stripes are typically melanistic.

Other features: Eastern Garter Snakes have keeled dorsal scales and the ventral scales range in colour from pale yellow to green.  If the lateral stripe is present it, is on part of the first and third scale row and covers the entire second scale row.

Habitat: Garter snakes are found in a wide variety of habitats in both rural and urban settings.  They frequent everything from wetlands to upland fields where they feed primarily on frogs, toads, earthworms and other soft-bodied invertebrates.

Reproduction: Breeding occurs in early spring soon after the snakes emerge from hibernation.  In areas where several snakes are sharing a hibernacula, the males emerge first and wait for females to emerge.  Mating balls consisting of one female and several males are not uncommon.  The young are born live late in July or early August and typically number between 6 and 60.  Larger females have larger broods than small females.