Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis

CLASS: Reptilia
ORDER: Squamata
SUBORDER: Serpentes
FAMILY: Colubridae

SIZE:
Up to 52 inches in length

RANGE:
North America; Statewide in Louisiana except for the marsh and west of the Red River Valley.

HABITAT:
Heavily wooded areas along banks of small streams.

DIET:
Wild - Earthworms, amphibians, small mammals, fish, leeches, other snakes, crawfish, snails, slugs, birds, sowbugs

Zoo - Minnows, worms, grubs

DESCRIPTION:
Moderately long, brown, gray, or nearly black with a yellowish or red-orange vertebral stripe and light yellow lateral stripe, with two alternating rows of black spots between the light stripes; anal plate divided.

Garter snakes and ribbon snakes are closely related (same genus).

YOUNG:
9 - 38 live young born in summer

STATUS:
Not threatened

REFERENCE:
"The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana," Harold A. Dundee and Douglas A. Rossman