Garter Snakes
Garter Snakes (also known as grass snakes) are found worldwide expect Antarctica. There are many different species of garter snakes.
Common garter snake (left)-University of Maryland, San Francisco garter snake (right)
Description
They vary in size and colour depending on the areas they are found in. Brown, black, green and sometimes grey, garter snakes usually have a prominent stripe or two, red or yellow, on their sides. They are not poisonous but will bite you if they feel threatened. They range in length from two to three feet. If you pick them up they leave an awful nasty odour on your skin and clothes, however they won’t hurt or bite you. If they did bite you, they have no venom.
Eastern black garter snake (left), Checkered garter snake (right)-photos John O. Hollister
Habitat
They usually live near ponds, creeks and streams or any other sources of water. They are found in long grass around fences and houses. Be careful if you are trimming these grasses as the sting from the weed whacker can kill snakes. Having one of these guys in your garden is a bonus. Especially if you are a west coast gardener and have a problem with slugs. They love slugs and snails. They are active most of the day but rarely seen in the heat of the day and find somewhere to hide for this period. Although they eat worms, they are still a gardeners friend. Mating occurs in early spring or fall depending on species. Females have up to 40 live babies at one time. Most garter snakes hibernate during the winter. The hibernators band together in large groups and emerge again in the spring.
Two striped garter snake (left)-San Diego Natural History Museum, Mass of snakes (right)-Nature Photos Manitoba, Canada
Diet
All of these snakes eat slugs, snails, small insects, small frogs, toads, worms, leeches, mosquito larvae and small fishes. The snakes in turn are eaten by birds, wild dogs, cats and occasionally rodents.
How to Attract Them to your Garden
Snakes like heat so a good idea is to mound up some dirt and soak it thoroughly. Cover this with a black plastic garbage bag secure to the ground with dirt or stones. This makes a humid environment for the snakes and they will stay. I would advise making this around your garden since snakes will eat lots of bugs. They can be seen basking in the sun near the shelters they approve.
August 2nd, 2005 at 11:38 am
Hi I am unfortunately one of those people that has a seriously terrifying phobia of snakes of any kind. I need to know if there is a way to get rid of them as they are in great abundance around and under my front porch. They have had babies at the end of my driveway and under the front porch and the majority of them have been aggresive to my two Golden Retrievers.
Please help, I am actually thinking of selling our farm this week as I feel that my quality of life has been compromised by the unusual abundance of these Garter snakes.
regards
Gail Hendricks-Bayes
August 2nd, 2005 at 11:51 am
Try putting moth balls under your porch, they won’t like the smell and will leave.
Regards
Cahri
October 19th, 2005 at 4:10 pm
iv found 2 garter snakes and it is early fall is it right if i keep them for a while?
November 13th, 2005 at 8:50 pm
Sure…..just make sure they have food, moisture and shelter
Regards
Cahri
July 2nd, 2006 at 11:13 am
I’m 10 and I love snakes.Are there any good ways to atract
them?
July 2nd, 2006 at 11:45 am
Iwant a snake.
July 16th, 2006 at 12:32 pm
Found a black snake with green stipes in my backyard today, about 1 & 1/2 ft long. Looked like a large twig. It scampered off to a wood pile near my garage. We have a large grassy dingle with a little brook running through it in part of the yard, but we are in a city residential area in Massachusetts. What kind of snake do you think this is. Is it dangerous and could there be more.
Thanks.
August 5th, 2006 at 1:23 pm
I am a west coast gardener with a slug problem. If I bought a garter snake at a pet store, would it stay in the yard if let go? I made the mound you sugjested.
August 7th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
Help,
I live in a condo….in the recent weeks there have been 1 or perhaps 2 snakes found in the hallway to the building. So far not in the actual homes. What works to keep them away. Why would this be the first time this has happened in 15+ years. The snake is black with orange-red stripes. Thank you ever so much.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:24 pm
Im glad there was this website so we could find out what kind of snake we had. FROM AMBER,I love snakes so i’m glad that I found this website. FROM APRIL L.
THANK YOU!
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:29 pm
Thank you for inventing this website. FROM april,
Thank you for this websit because i love snakes and wanted to find out more about mine. FROM AMBER
THANK YOU!
October 5th, 2006 at 6:39 pm
I have a pretty small garden snake. now I need to know what do I feed it?
March 30th, 2007 at 11:02 am
I found two garters and I kept them as pets.I have gotten them to eat pinkies and fuzzies.I was wondering about the insect/bug part.Do they Eatt crickets and are they good for them?
August 3rd, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Do garter snakes like the checkered Garter or the San Francisco Garter make good pets?
October 19th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
I found a snake and i was wondering is it a good pet and can it stay in a aquariame ? And does it live in water or does it need water?
May 20th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Thanks so much for iventing this website it has helped me alot and has teached me alot about garter snakes!
Now me and Flika ( pet garter snake ) will be much more happier thanks to you guys!!!
May 20th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Hi Traci
I think a snake makes a wonderfull pet and i am very happy about my pet snake ,so I would say YES!!! They make exilint pets !
Hope You enjoy your snake
from
****Smiley****
August 21st, 2008 at 3:45 pm
i may of found a new time of bug i cant finde it on here its werid can you help??
September 18th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
trying to find a place to purchase garden,grass,garter snkaes and newts and salamanders for an outdoor pond in a wooded area thaks lee
March 6th, 2012 at 6:54 pm
Feed the new bugs to the snakes…..snakes like bugs….lolololololololo
May 20th, 2012 at 7:20 pm
Im goin to get money for these snakes your helpin me get!!!