This Month in Yellowstone
Wandering Garter Snake

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18

NPS Photo by Erik Hendrickson

We have only five species of snakes in the park and the wandering garter snake is one of them. It is the most common reptile in the park. I have copied an excerpt from our Reptiles Page and included it below. The photo was taken on May 22, 2005.

WANDERING GARTER SNAKE
Thamnophis elegans vagrans

Identification

Most common reptile in the park.
6 to 30 inches in length.
Brown, brownish green, or gray with three light stripes-one running the length of the back and a stripe on each side.

Habitat

Usually found near water in all areas of the park.
Eats small rodents, fish, frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, earthworms, slugs, snails, and leeches.
Behavior

May discharge musk from glands at the base of the tail when threatened.
Gives birth to as many as 20 live young in late summer or fall.