Common Garter Snake

Breeding:
Live-bearing. Mates mostly late March to early May, occasionally in fall. 7-85 young
born late June to August, earlier in Florida, to early October in the North. Young are 5-9” (13-23cm) long; mature in 2 years.

Habitat:
Near water- wet meadows, marshes, prairie swales, irrigation and drainage ditches, damp woodland, farms, parks; sea level to 8,000’ (2,450m).

Range:
Atlantic to Pacific coasts; except desert regions of Southwest.

Subspecies:
The most commonly encountered snake in many parts of its range. Active during the day and most frequently seen amid moist vegetation where it searches for frogs, toads, salamanders, and earthworms. Occasionally it takes small fish and mice. This species is able to tolerate cold weather and may active all year in the southerly par of number in community dens in northerly range. Ill-tempered when first captured, it will bite or expel musk, but it tame quickly and soon becomes docile. Record longevity is 10 years.