The common garter snake is most often found around
aquatic habitats
, such as ponds, freshwater wetlands and riparian areas. If threatened, they will often flee into the water where they are excellent swimmers.
Where are garter snakes mostly found?
Range and Habitat: Garter snakes are common
throughout the Southeast and most of North America
and are found in a wide variety of habitats, including meadows, marshes, woodlands, and hillsides.
Where do garter snakes burrow?
Garter snakes don't create and burrow their own holes
. They utilize the holes of other animals or natural cracks in the soil. Shed skins may be found in the spring or late summer. Most adult garter snakes shed two to three times per year.
Are garter snakes good to have in your yard?
Garter snakes are a gardener's friend!
Harmless to humans
, they eat all the pests that wreak havoc in your garden. Learn more about the shy but helpful gardening helper who just wants to live peacefully in harmony with you—and eat your slugs! … I kind of wish we did have some; they're known to eat tick-infested mice!
Do garter snakes live in holes?
Garter snakes prefer tall grass, marshland (near water), forested areas. While in these environments, snakes may seek shelter in tree hollows,
under logs, leaf litter, underground holes
, rock outcroppings and/or burrows that have been abandoned by other animals.
What time of day are garter snakes most active?
Considering they spend the winter hibernating, a potential run-in with a garter snake will most likely occur during the late spring and summer. These pests are also primarily active during the warmer hours of the day, like
the afternoon
, which is when they leave their dens to hunt and bask in the warm sunlight.
What attracts snakes to your house?
- Mice.
- Leaf piles.
- Landscaping rocks.
- Dense shrubbery.
- Gaps in your home's foundation.
- Bird baths.
What smell do snakes hate?
Ammonia
: Snakes dislike the odor of ammonia so one option is to spray it around any affected areas. Another option is to soak a rug in ammonia and place it in an unsealed bag near any areas inhabited by snakes to deter them away.
Are garter snakes aggressive?
Garter snakes are shy
. They will generally avoid humans and animal contact and prefer to be left alone. If you have Garter snakes in your yard or garden, chances are you may not even know.
What does it mean if you see a garter snake?
“It's an indicator of a healthy ecosystem, to have a snake in your yard [or garden],” said Melissa Amarello, co-founder and director of education for Advocates for Snake Preservation. “It means
you have a friendly yard going on, enough to support a predator.
”
What animals eat garter snakes?
Because of their small size, garter snakes have many predators, including
hawks, crows, bears, bullfrogs, snapping turtles, foxes, squirrels and raccoons
, according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW), a database maintained by the University of Michigan's Museum of Zoology.
How do you get rid of garter snakes?
- Trim your bushes – without overgrown bushes, they'll have nowhere to hide.
- Mow your lawn for the same reason.
- Keep your lawn clear of debris to give them fewer spots to hide in as well.
- Remove food sources.
- Trap and relocate snakes to wooded areas.
What do you do if you find a snake hole in your yard?
Leave It Alone
. If you come across a hole in your garden or yard that you think might be a snake hole, the easiest course of action is to simply leave it alone. There are only four types of venomous snakes that live on land in the United States, and your snake is far more likely to be a harmless garter snake.
What does garter snake poop look like?
According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, snake droppings, like those of birds, usually have
a cap of white calcareous material at one end
. One reason snake scat resembles that of birds is an anatomical similarity.
How long do garter snakes live?
The life span of an average common garter snake can range from
four to five years
. However, they can live up to 10 years in captivity.
Do garter snakes carry diseases?
Abstract. Garter snakes that are used for scientific laboratory studies or kept as exotic pets often become ill and die early in captivity. They may also act as
reservoirs of potential human pathogens
or transmit infection to man.
