What the Eastern Garter Snake

Binomial Name: _Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis_

Order: Squamata

Family: Colubridae

Size: Adult eastern garter snakes typically range in length from 18 to 36 inches (46 to 91 centimeters).

Weight: Eastern garter snakes typically weigh between 2 and 8 ounces (57 and 227 grams).

Lifespan: Eastern garter snakes have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years in the wild, although some individuals have been known to live for up to 20 years.

Appearance: Eastern garter snakes have a slender body with a smooth, shiny skin. Their coloration can vary, but they are typically dark brown or black with a yellow or greenish-yellow stripe running down the back. They also have a pair of yellow or orange crescent-shaped markings on the back of their heads.

Habitat: Eastern garter snakes are found in a variety of habitats, including meadows, forests, swamps, marshes, and even urban areas. They prefer moist, shady areas with plenty of cover.

Diet: Eastern garter snakes are carnivorous and their diet consists primarily of small mammals, such as mice, voles, and shrews. They will also eat amphibians, such as frogs and salamanders, as well as fish, earthworms, and insects.

Reproduction: Eastern garter snakes are sexually mature at around 2 years of age. Mating occurs in the spring and summer, and females typically give birth to a live young between late summer and early fall. The average litter size is between 10 and 20 snakes, but some females can produce up to 50 young.

Conservation Status: Eastern garter snakes are not currently considered to be a threatened or endangered species. However, their populations have been declining in some areas due to habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as predation by domestic animals and other predators.