The garter snake is one of the most common snakes in North America, where it is native, and it is the only snake found in Alaska. There are over a dozen subspecies of garter snakes which generally have yellow stripes down the length of their bodies on a checkered background in various shades of green, brown, gray or black.
We all know that reptiles lay eggs, but garter snakes are not aware of this. They bear their young alive. At least that is what appears, when actually the eggs are incubated in the mother's abdomen. The young at birth are independent, and there can be from 12 to 40 in a litter.
During hibernation garter snakes often occupy large communal sites, and in the summer they can be seen basking in the sun to regulate their body temperature. They have a complex system of communicating by means of scented trails left by other garter snakes. Females have a distinct scent that enables males to find them during mating season in early spring.
When captured, garter snakes discharge a foul-smelling musky liquid that encourages their predators to release them. Their enemies are hawks, owls, skunks, foxes, snapping turtles and milk snakes.
While garter snakes are non-poisonous, their saliva can be toxic, which helps to subdue their prey. Garter snakes eat slugs, earthworms, leeches, lizards, amphibians and mice and they swallow their food whole.
Garter snakes are often seen in gardens where they find plenty of food. For this reason some people mistakenly call them garden snakes. But garter snakes are so called because their pattern and colors resemble the garters that men used to wear to hold up their stockings.
