What Are Garter and Ribbon Snakes?
Garter Snakes are the Gardener's Friend.
Types of Ribbon and Garter Snakes
Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus) is a medium-sized slender, reddish brown snake with a golden yellow stripe down it's back and a light yellow lateral stripe on the third and fourth dorsal scale rows. In the Florida parishes, where we live, it is often confused with its close relative the Western Ribbon Snake, which also lives here. However the Eastern Ribbon Snake is confined to the Florida Parishes north of the marshes bordering Lake Pontchartrain.
It eats fish and adult and larval amphibians. It has live young in broods from 3 to 26.
Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus) is a moderately long, slender, olive brown to black snake with a gold or orange stripe down its back. It is found all over Louisiana and is the most commonly encountered snake here. It lives near ponds, streams, ditches, swamps, rice fields and other wet areas. It eats fish and adult and larval amphibians.
Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus orarius) is a sub-species of the Western Ribbon Snake characterized by an olive brown dorsum and a broad gold vertebral stripe. It lives adjacent to marshes.
Eastern Garter Snake, Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis is a moderately long, brown, gray or nearly black snake with a yellowish or red-orange vertebral stripe and a light yellow lateral stripe on the second and third dorsal scale rows. It looks similar to the Western Ribbon Snake, but can be distinguished by the position of the lateral stripe. Only the Eastern Garter Snake (T. s. sirtalis) has been reported in Louisiana. Some individuals have a red-orange vertebral stripe which suggests genetic influence from the Texas Garter Snake.
It lives in forests, along the banks of small streams and in other habitat near water. Its diet consists of primarily earthworms and amphibians, but also small mammals, fish, leeches, other snakes, crawfish, snails and slugs, birds, sowbugs and insects. Which is why it is welcomed by gardeners for its free pest service. The live young are born in broods from 9 to 38 little snakes.
References: Kingsnake.com and Dundee, Harold A. and Douglas A. Rossman, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana.
Crayfish, Ribbon, and Garter snakes
B. Glossy Crayfish Snake, Regina rigida
C. Eastern Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis sauritus
D. Western Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis proximus proximus
E. Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis proximus orarius
F. Common Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis
Photo Reference: Dundee, Harold A. and Douglas A. Rossman, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana.
Snakes of the Southeast
Snakes Of The Southeast (Wormsloe Foundation Nature Book)
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Garter Snakes on Wiki
A garter snake is any species of North American snake within the genus Thamnophis. Because of the similarity in the sound of the words, combined with where people often see them, they are sometimes called garden snakes, gardner snakes or gardener snakes, or even garder snakes or guarder snakes. They are harmless to humans.
Garter snakes are common across North America, from Canada to Central America, and they are the single most widely distributed genus of reptile in North America. In fact, the common garter snake, T. sirtalis, is the only species of snake to be found in Alaska, and is one of the northernmost species of snake in the world, possibly second only to the Crossed Viper, Vipera berus. The genus is so far ranging due to its unparticular diet and adaptability to different biomes and landforms, from marshes to hillsides to drainage ditches and even vacant lots, in both dry and wet regions, with varying proximity to water and rivers. However, in the western part of North America, these snakes are more water loving than in the eastern portion. Northern populations hibernate in larger groups than southern ones. Despite the decline in their population from collection as pets (especially in the more northerly regions in which large groups are collected at hibernation), pollution of aquatic areas, and introduction of bullfrogs and bass as predators, this is still a very commonly found snake. The San Francisco garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia, however, is an endangered subspecies and has been on the endangered list since 1967 and has a red and orange colored pattern on its back. Predation by crayfish has also been responsible for the decline of the narrow head garter snake, T. rufipunctatus.
There is no real consensus on the classificiation of species Thamnophis and disagreement among taxonomists and sources, such as field guides, over whether two types of snakes are separate species or subspecies of the same species is common. They are also closely related to the snakes of the genus Nerodia, and some species have been moved back and forth between genera.
Garter and Water Snakes
Garter Snakes and Water Snakes (The Herpetocultural Library. Series 200)
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Gathering of Garter Snakes
A Gathering of Garter Snakes
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Garter Snake Photos
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Squiggle Out a Line.
ss834 wrote...
We found a snake in the backyard and I came here to ID it. Sure enough, it looks like a garter snake. Very helpful lens!
Posted June 21, 2009
praise wrote...
Another great lens. I had a garter living under my porch for about 8 years, I no longer see him, but have lots of pics of him. I called him Speedy. Please visit my lens here and sign my guestbook.
Thanks,
Debra
Posted March 13, 2009
ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...
I'm not real fond of snakes but they have thier place in the natural order of things.
Great lens
Lizzy
Posted January 20, 2009
rio1 wrote...
Great lens. Snakes are the most maligned animals on earth. When encountering a snake, one should walk around them or nudge them to allow them to go on their way. Live and let live, for snakes have just as much a right to live as we do. Thanks again for an very educational lens, which I hope more people will read.
Posted November 08, 2008
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by naturegirl7
My husband and I have always loved nature and the outdoors. We currently maintain a 9 acre private wildlife preserve and are Master Gardeners and offi... (more) 
