Garter Snakes In Vermont

Vermont’s name is derived from the French words vert, meaning green, and mont, for mountain. The Green Mountains run along the western region from north to south. The Hudson River, Lake George, Lake Champlain, and the Connecticut River are some of the main water bodies of the state. Garter snakes, who like to live near water bodies, are sure to find a home within the verdant landscape of Vermont. This state is home to 11 snake species, most of them harmless and beneficial, including garter snakes. Let’s look at garter snakes in Vermont and find out which species call “The Green Mountain State” home.

Get Familiar with the Garter Snake

Garter snakes can thrive in a variety of habitats and eat an assortment of different prey. You can find garter snakes in woods, open fields, and brush-filled areas. They inhabit forests, swamps, edges of rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. You can find them basking in the sun on woodpiles, hedges, and rocks. Garter snakes eat amphibians like frogs, toads, and salamanders mainly, but also other small prey. They’ll eat earthworms, mice, small fish, slugs, small snakes, and insects. Their saliva subdues their small prey but only causes a reaction in some people, and this is usually minimal swelling or a small rash. As a welcome garden companion, they help to keep common pests at bay. These shy snakes prefer to stay mostly out of sight. Their saliva is toxic to their prey, but they don’t have venom harmful to humans. 

The garter snake is part of the Natricinnae subfamily. Like most in this group, they give birth to live young. Their genus Thamnophis includes about 35 garter snake species. The name is derived from the Greek words thamnos, meaning ‘bush or shrub’ and ophio, which means ‘snake.’ The common garter snake species name is Thamnophis sirtalis. Sirtalis is Latin for “like a garter,” and refers to them looking like old-fashioned sock garters. Like all snakes, garter snakes are ectotherms, so they regulate their body temperature by moving toward and away from heat sources. You might find garter snakes in the shade during the heat of the day or sunning themselves on rocks when they need to warm up. Let’s find out if you can find the common garter snake in Vermont and what other species might be spotted there.

Garter Snakes in Vermont

Garter snakes find themselves among other nonvenomous snakes in Vermont, like the eastern milk snake, northern brown snake, black rat snake, and the smooth green snake. The timber rattlesnake is the only venomous species in Vermont. The common garter, eastern milk snake, and northern water snake are the snake species most likely to be found near homes in Vermont. Given that garter snakes are a common snake to find near your home, you might wonder when you’re most likely to see them.

While you’re most likely to find them in your backyard in the summertime, they often show up in basements in autumn. Garters are more active earlier in the spring and later in the fall than other snakes. Although an extremely cold-resistant species, they go into a period of inactivity called brumation during the coldest winter months. They usually brumate in crevices under rocks, in trees, or on the banks of streams. As they seek out their site to bed down while the weather’s cold, they’ll sometimes find their way into buildings, and it can be hard for them to find their way back out. 

Which Garter Snake Species live in Vermont?

Vermont is home to two species of garter snake: the common garter snake and the eastern ribbon snake. The common garter snake is the more prevalent garter in the state. It’s the snake you are most likely to see in backyards or out on nature walks. The eastern ribbon snake is only found in parts of the state. If a garter crosses your path in Vermont, it’s likely to be the common garter snake, more specifically, a subspecies found in the region called the eastern garter snake.

Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

The common garter snake presents as two subspecies within Vermont. The eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) and the maritime garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis pallidulus) are the two variations. According to a study from the University of New Hampshire, there are no substantial differences between these subspecies in this region. While the sight of a snake may catch you by surprise, there’s no reason to fear. If picked up, garters may secret a strong musk or even bite. However, their bites aren’t harmful to humans. Although appearances can vary, these snakes typically have three yellow stripes down the length of their dark bodies. Their body colors tend to be black, brown, or green. They’ll often have alternating black blotches between the stripes. They have keeled scales and yellow or pale green bellies. These snakes grow to be 16 to 26 inches on average in length, but up to 42 inches. 

Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus)

The eastern ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus) is a subspecies of ribbon snake that lives in the state of Vermont, but it’s very rare. This snake is similar in appearance to the much more abundant common garter snake. They both have three yellow stripes on a dark body. A checkerboard pattern is rarely seen between the stripes of the eastern ribbon snake. This species has a dark-reddish-brown head and a white upper lip with a vertical white bar just in front of the eyes. They also have a mahogany-colored stripe along the lower sides of their body. This species is more slender and agile than the common garter snake. The longest documented specimen of the eastern ribbon snake in Vermont was 35 inches long.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Steve Bower/Shutterstock.com