Garter snakes also known as garden snakes or gardner snakes are common across north america from canada to florida.
Where to find garden snakes.
Since they are not venomous to humans many people keep them as pets.
Also known as red rat snakes corn snakes are another member of the constrictor family.
You may encounter this snake in a little used garden shed or open meadow hunting for its preferred diet of rodents.
Garter snakes are the most common type of snake in north america that is likely to be venture into your garden.
They tend to be the most commonly encountered garden snake and if you do have them they re a useful insect eater.
Check our california snakes range maps page to find out what snakes occur in your general area.
Information about garden snakes says this type is especially likely to be in your yard or near your pond or stream.
Snakes will harbor in areas that serve their needs.
They are the single most widely distributed genus of reptile in north america and are a common sight in american gardens.
Unless you have a perfect back porch where all the screen is tight and where the aluminum door shuts tight you likely have spaces where snakes can squeeze through.
Often several huddle together under leaves or broken branches.
In different habitats the look of the snake can change from a basic black body with thin white bands to a brown body with thicker white bands to bodies with stripes down the body rather than bands.
Snakes can move indoors if these needs are met inside or near the structure.
Habitat note where the snake occurs desert forest mountains marsh in water grassland etc.
This is likely as snakes like cool freshly turned soil and moisture.
Our snake inspection guide can help you find snakes in your yard.
They need a place to hide and keep warm moisture and a food source.
Many snakes occur only in certain parts of the state.
They have a variety of color possibilities including a mix of greens and sometimes reds browns blacks oranges greys and yellows.
But some rattlesnakes can be found up north as well.
Like all kingsnakes the california kingsnake is immune to rattlesnake venom so when the two snakes cross paths the kingsnake typically wins.
Garter snakes are often referred to as garden or gardener snakes.
Sometimes you may see them sunning on rocks.
In my neck of the woods rattlesnakes are pretty common though in the middle of suburbia they are never encountered in the garden.
Size shape and texture.
They can be discovered near water and basking in the sun during warm temperatures.
Garden snakes frequent parks meadows open grasslands forests and woodlands marshes hillsides gardens and neighborhood yards.
Most rattlesnakes are encountered in the southern states particularly in the southwestern us.
Many snakes have a preferred type of habitat within their range.