Species profile
Terrestrial Gartersnake
Thamnophis elegans
Identify Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans) 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
Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans) is an IUCN Least Concern reptile with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 29,872 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Colorado, and Utah the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Adults typically reach 18–43 inches long, making them a mid-sized North American snake.
- Occurs from sea level up to elevations exceeding 10,000 feet in mountain ranges.
- Eats fish, frogs, salamanders, and slugs — a highly varied diet for a small snake.
- Gives birth to live young, with litters typically ranging from 4 to 19 snakelets.
- Releases a foul-smelling musk from tail glands when threatened by predators.
Where Terrestrial Gartersnake are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Terrestrial Gartersnake
Background
The western terrestrial garter snake (Thamnophis elegans) is a western North American species of colubrid snake. At least five subspecies are currently recognized.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Terrestrial Gartersnake article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other reptiles on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Terrestrial Gartersnake?
Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans) 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 Terrestrial Gartersnake?
Terrestrial Gartersnake is Thamnophis elegans.
Is Terrestrial Gartersnake regulated for fishing?
Yes — Terrestrial 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 Terrestrial Gartersnake?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Terrestrial 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.