This elegant little garter snake is a frequent visitor to many backyards throughout its range. The subspecies of Western Terrestrial Garter Snake found in B.C. commonly is called the "Wandering" Garter Snake. As with all garter snakes, the Wandering Garter Snake has strongly keeled scutes (each scale has a ridge running from front to back), giving it a dusty, dull appearance. The colour patterns vary throughout its range. In general, this snake has a grey body with a light stripe (usually yellow to orangish red) down its back, and a matching stripe running down each side. It also usually has a pattern of dark spots, about the size of the eraser on the back of a pencil, all over its back and over-lapping the stripes.
Ten Facts about Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
- Length can be 18-42" (45.7-106.7 cm).
- Mates in spring; 4-19 young 6 1/2-9" (16.5-23 cm) long, are born July to September.
- Moist situations near water; margins of streams, ponds, lakes, damp meadows; open grassland to forest; sea level to 10,500' (3,200 m).
- Sw. Manitoba and s. British Columbia southward into Mexico, extreme sw. South Dakota and extreme w. Oklahoma west to Pacific coast.
- Diurnal. Occasionally seen basking during morning hours in the open.
- It's alternate name is wandering Garter Snake.
- They belong to the family of Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes.
- The diet consist, small mammals, insects, lizards, reptiles eggs, birds, e.t.c.
- Large birds, wild boars, mongooses, raccoons, foxes, coyotes and even other snakes are a few of the dangers snakes fall prey to.
- The average life span of a snake is about 10-12 years.
