Page 30 - Arkansas Snake Guide
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TERRESTRIAL SNAKES
SUZANNE COLLINS
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
Range Statewide.
Description Keeled scales. A striped snake with three
light-colored yellow, green or blue stripes on the back,
with two wide olive, black or brown stripes between the
center light stripe and the stripes on either side. Belly is
white, green or gray. Young resemble adults. Adults 18-24
inches in length.
Habitat and Habits Found in a variety of wet habitats,
marshes, floodplains, lake and pond edges and wet
pastures. It is active by day from March-November. Mating
takes place in spring or autumn and 5-80 young are born
in late summer or early fall. It eats amphibians, earthworms,
minnows, young rodents and small snakes.
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