Fun Facts About Garter Snakes

Garter snake at Rocky Fork

The eastern garter snake is a common and widespread reptile that lives in various habitats across eastern North America. It has a striped pattern of yellow or white on a dark background, and can grow up to four feet long. It is not venomous, but it can bite and release a foul-smelling musk when threatened. It feeds on a variety of prey, such as frogs, toads, slugs and worms. It is ovoviviparous, meaning it gives birth to live young. It hibernates in groups during the winter in underground dens.