How do garter snakes eat

If you live anywhere in North America, chances are you've seen a garter snake slithering past. For many, such a sight might cause a flinch or scream or, for a die hard and curious few, the need to get closer. If you're in the latter category, be careful. While garters are relatively harmless , if you pick one up, it may try to defend itself with a bite — a relatively harmless bite, but a nip nonetheless. It will also struggle and emit a foul smell from its anal gland.

Still, in the world of snakes, the garter is among the world's most benign snakes. They were thought until the early s to be non-venomous, but they do, in fact, produce a neurotoxic venom , though the small amount and mildness ensures that it cannot kill, or even harm, a human being.

In many areas, garters are the most common snake in the neighborhood. They range in length from Generally, the stripes on the back of the slithering bodies of these small to medium-sized snakes are gray, brown, black or olive in color. A few have dark spots. But a quick search will show that there are 35 species of garter snake belonging to the genus Thamnophis , so they come in many different colors and patterns. Garter snakes are great for the garden as well.

They are shy and will avoid human beings and pets at all costs, living peacefully in harmony with you and your family. Garters are highly active. You might see them both at night and during the day, but you may not know they are there, as they will slither away from you as quickly as they can. Parent snakes do not care for their young. There are 30 species of garter snakes and many more subspecies, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System.

The taxonomy of garter snakes is:. Thamnophis sirtalis common garter snake : The common garter snake has the largest range, occurring in most of the continental United States with several subspecies, according to Beane. They are found everywhere from Alaska to Florida, though they do not live in the Southwest. Common garter snakes usually have three white, yellow, blue, or green stripes running the lengths of their brown or olive bodies.

Their heads are darker than their bodies. Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis Eastern garter snake : This subspecies of common garter snake is typical throughout the eastern United States. Though its body color may vary from brown to green, it almost always has three yellowish stripes on its back, according to the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. Sometimes its body is splotchy, giving it a checked appearance. Eastern garter snakes in Georgia and Florida sometimes have bluish coloring.

Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis red-sided garter snake : This California subspecies of common garter snake can be stunning. Blue or yellow stripes pop against the dark olive or black body, and red bars line the sides of the body. The red-sided garter snake has a red or orange head and a blue underside. North of the San Francisco Bay Area, the underside is sometimes a brilliant bright blue.

Its eyes are larger than other garter snake species. According to California Herps , it is able to eat Pacific newts, which are poisonous to other predators. Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia San Francisco garter snake : According to California Herps , this San Francisco peninsula snake has a red head, big eyes, and wide, blue-green, black, and red stripes.

Its underside is blue-green. Like the red-sided garter snake, it eats Pacific newts. These snakes begin mating in the spring as soon as they emerge from hibernation. The males leave the den first and wait for the females to exit.

Once the females leave the den the males surround them. The males give off pheromones that attract the females. After the female has chosen her mate and mated, she returns to her summer habitat to feed and to find a proper birth place.

However, the males stay to re-mate with other available females. The females have the ability to store the male's sperm until it is needed and thus a female may not mate if she does not find a proper partner. Common garter snakes are ovoviviparous bearing live young. The young are incubated in the lower abdomen, about half way down from the snake's body. Gestation is usually two to three months. Most litters range from 10 to 40 young and litter size depends on the size of the female, with larger females giving birth to larger litters.

Upon birth, baby garter snakes are independent and must find food on their own. Common garter snakes typically eat earthworms , amphibians , leeches , slugs , snails , insects , crayfish , small fish and other snakes.