Checkered Garter Snake

Checkered garter snakes can release a stinky liquid to escape predators.

The checkered garter snake is aptly named for the black and white checkered pattern of scales running down its back. Frogs, worms, toads, and small fish are all a part of the diet of this snake. In terms of habitat, this snake can thrive in many places, including savannas, grasslands, woodlands, and deserts. It measures just 18 to 24 inches long. Its small size is just one reason why some people care for these reptiles as pets.

4 Amazing Facts

• A rare albino type of this snake has white/yellow scales and red eyes
• It gives live birth to as many as 35 snakelets
• Its venom is deadly to its prey but not to humans
• It spends winter brumation inside a burrow with several other garter snakes.

Habitat: Where to Find Them

The checkered garter snake lives in North America and Central America. They are seen in the southwestern United States in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Mexico is also home to this snake. Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua are other places to find the checkered garter snake.

Checkered garter snakes live in a temperate climate. They’re found in varied habitats, including savannahs, deserts, woodlands, and grasslands. It’s not unusual to spot these snakes near rivers, ponds, and streams.

The activity of this snake increases during mating season in the spring, specifically from late March to April. Alternatively, they disappear into rock crevices and abandoned burrows in the wintertime to brumate with other garter snakes.

Countries where the checkered garter snake lives:

1. United States
2. Mexico
3. Guatemala
4. Costa Rica
5. Belize
6. Nicaragua
7. Honduras

Scientific Name

Thamnophis marcianus is the scientific name of the checkered garter snake. The name marcianus is a reference to General Marcy, a well-known frontier surveyor in the mid-1800s.

It belongs to the Colubridae family and class Reptilia.

The subspecies of this snake include:

• Thamnophis marcianus praeocularis
• Thamnophis marcianus bovalli

Population & Conservation Status

The population of the checkered garter snake varies depending on the region. It’s described by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as abundant in Texas and rare in Costa Rica. As a consequence, there’s not exact population listed for this garter snake. It’s categorized as Least Concern.

Appearance and Description

The ridged scales on the back of this snake are green with a black and white checkered pattern. There is a long white stripe down the middle of its back all the way to the end of its thin tail. The middle stripe is bordered by two more narrow, white stripes. The snake has a green head with black and white vertical stripes around its mouth. It has a white belly with narrow black bars and round eyes with black pupils.

Normally, the snake is 18 to 24 inches long but can be as large as 42 inches.

How to identify a checkered garter snake:

• Green base scales with a black and white checkered pattern
• A long white stripe down the middle of its back bordered by two thinner white stripes
• A slender body with a thin tail
• A green head with black and white stripes around its mouth
• A white belly with narrow black bars
• Round pupils

An albino checkered garter snake is a rare find in nature. The albino variety of this snake has white or yellowish scales and red eyes. Otherwise, it’s the same size sharing the same diet and habits as other garter snakes. It’s albino due to a genetic abnormality.

Diet

Checkered garter snakes are carnivorous and primarily feed on small fish, frogs, toads, salamanders, insects, earthworms, and slugs. They hunt mostly in water or near bodies of water by using their sense of smell to locate prey. In addition to hunting for food in the wild, they will often scavenge for food as well. Checkered garter snakes are excellent swimmers and have been known to travel long distances over land in search of a meal. When not actively hunting, checkered garter snakes can be found basking in the sun or hiding under rocks or logs during the day. At night they become more active and may travel several miles in search of food which makes them an important predator species within aquatic ecosystems.

How Dangerous Are They?

Checkered garter snakes have venom but are not dangerous to humans. Their venom is not like the venom of a copperhead or cobra. A checkered garter snake’s venom is so mild it doesn’t pose a threat to people. Furthermore, this snake has small teeth, so its bite feels a lot like a sting.

Though the checkered garter snake is not poisonous to a human, there is some care necessary to address a bite from this reptile.

If the bite breaks through the skin, wash the area with soap and water. Next, apply first-aid cream to stave off infection. Then, cover the bite marks with a bandage to protect it as the skin heals. If a lot of redness or swelling develops around the bite wound, it needs additional care from a medical professional. Some garter snakes carry bacteria in their mouth, so it’s a good idea to get the bite checked if it doesn’t heal in a timely way.

A checkered garter snake has a secret weapon it uses against threats. It has the ability to expel a stinky liquid from its body as a way to make predators (and humans) retreat! The predator is so surprised and grossed out by the stinky liquid it lets the snake go!

Behavior and Humans

This snake’s wide variety of habitats increases the chances of an encounter with humans. A person who lives near a field, a wooded area, or even an overgrown empty lot is more likely to see this snake than someone residing in an urban area. The checkered garter snake is timid and inclined to slither away at the first sign of a human.

The checkered garter snake is a small to medium-sized species of reptile that typically inhabits wetland areas. They are relatively active during the day, especially in warmer months, and can be seen basking in the sun or hunting for prey. They feed mainly on small amphibians such as frogs and salamanders but will also eat fish, insects, and even other snakes.

These reptiles are known to be quite territorial by nature and have been observed carrying out ‘combat’ behavior when two males cross paths. This involves pushing each other with their heads before one eventually retreats from the area. It has also been reported that they may occasionally produce loud hissing noises as part of this display of dominance as well.

When it comes to breeding season (spring-summer), checkered garter snakes form large communal mating balls where multiple male individuals compete for access to a single female mate within the group. Males use their tails to entwine around those of potential mates while using body movements such as thrashing back and forth in an attempt to court them successfully. Once successful mating has taken place, females will lay eggs shortly afterward, which hatch after about six weeks incubation period in warm conditions.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

The checkered garter snake reproduces through internal fertilization, where the male snake transfers sperm to the female during mating. The females give birth to live young in late summer or early autumn, usually with clutches of 3-20 snakes. These juvenile snakes are born around 6–8 inches long and will reach adulthood at about 16–24 inches when fully grown. Checkered garter snakes typically live for between 6 and 10 years in the wild but can survive up to 20 years if given proper care in captivity.

Similar Animals

• San Francisco garter snake
• Dekay’s brownsnake
• Rough earthsnake