# Garter Snake: Key Facts

> Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) are reptiles found across North America. One of North America's most common and widespread snakes.

- **Species:** Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Carnivore
- **Habitat:** Meadows, marshes, woodlands, and gardens
- **Lifespan:** 4–10 years in the wild
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/garter-snake/garter-snake-facts/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/garter-snake/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The garter snake is one of the most common and widespread snakes in North America, found in meadows, marshes, woodlands, and gardens from Canada to Mexico. It is a slender snake, typically 0.5 to 1.3 m long and about 150 g, usually striped in yellow or green along a darker body. Harmless to people, it slithers actively by day hunting worms, amphibians, and fish, and lives around four to ten years.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need the full biology — use the [Garter Snake profile](https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/garter-snake/) instead.

## Appearance and identification

Garter snakes are best known for the long stripes that run the length of the body, usually one down the back and one along each side, in yellow, green, or cream against brown, grey, or black. Adults are slim and typically measure 0.5 to 1.3 m (about 1.5 to 4.3 ft) and weigh around 150 g. There are many regional colour forms, so patterning varies widely across the species' huge range. The keeled scales give the skin a slightly rough, matte look rather than a glossy sheen.

## Help protect the Garter Snake

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/garter-snake/garter-snake-facts/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.