Species profile
Common Gartersnake
Thamnophis sirtalis
Identify Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) from a photo: try it free in your browser, or get unlimited IDs, no sign-up, with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 1 jurisdiction.
At a glance
Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is an IUCN Least Concern reptile with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 177,143 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Ontario, New York, and Pennsylvania the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- The most widely distributed reptile in North America, found coast to coast.
- Manitoba dens can contain tens of thousands of snakes hibernating together.
- Some populations tolerate toxins from rough-skinned newts that would kill other predators.
- Females can give birth to litters of up to 80 live young at once.
- Among the last North American snakes to enter hibernation each autumn.
Where Common Gartersnake are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Common Gartersnake
Background
The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is a species of natricine snake, which is indigenous to North America and found widely across the continent. Most common garter snakes have a pattern of yellow stripes on a black, brown or green background, and their average total length (including tail) is about 55 cm (22 in), with a maximum total length of about 137 cm (54 in). The average body mass…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Common Gartersnake article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other reptiles on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Common Gartersnake?
Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is an IUCN Least Concern reptile with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Common Gartersnake?
Common Gartersnake is Thamnophis sirtalis.
Is Common Gartersnake regulated for fishing?
Yes — Common Gartersnake has fishing regulations in 1 U.S. state and/or Canadian province tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Common Gartersnake?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Common Gartersnake along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.