Synonyms: Common Garter Snake, Eastern Garter Snake, Eastern Gartersnake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis.
Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is probably the most widespread and familiar snake species in Maryland. This adaptable serpent can be found in forested habitats, to more open habitats like old fields or grassland, to wetland borders and marshes, and even in suburban yards. While T. sirtalis appears to eat primarily aquatic and semiaquatic vertebrates (like fish or amphibians), they will feed heavily on earthworms or other prey at times. Garters are generally the first snake species to become active in spring, and the last one to enter hibernation in fall. This snake is nonvenomous, though they readily musk, and may nip if handled (Tennant, 2003). Common Gartersnake occurs in every Maryland county, and is generally common to abundant (Maryland DNR).
This widespread snake species is generally distinctive in Maryland. The conspecific Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis s. saurita) is superficially similar, also showing dark and light longitudinal lines like T. sirtalis. T. saurita shows a contrasting pale whitish spot on the preocular scale, which is generally lacking on sirtalis. Both species show a maximum of 19 dorsal scale rows. The palelateral line on Eastern Garter occupies scale rows 2 and 3, while it is higher on ribbon, on scale rows 3 and 4. The labial scales lack dark markings on ribbon, while Common Gartersnake typically shows some dark markings at the scale borders. Ribbonsnakes have a proportionately longer tail, and a more slender body than garter snakes (Rossman et al., 1996).
There are 1,116 records in the project database.
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