Checkered garter snakes can release a stinky liquid to escape predators.

The checkered garter snake is aptly named for the black and white checkered pattern of scales running down its back. Frogs, worms, toads, and small fish are all a part of the diet of this snake. In terms of habitat, this snake can thrive in many places including savannas, grasslands, woodlands, and deserts. It measures just 18 to 24 inches long. Its small size is just one reason why some people care for these reptiles as pets.

4 Amazing Checkered Garter Snake Facts

• A rare albino type of this snake has white/yellow scales and red eyes
• It gives live birth to as many as 35 snakelets
• Its venom is poisonous to its prey, but not to humans
• It spends winter brumation inside a burrow with several other garter snakes

Where to Find Checkered Garter Snakes

The checkered garter snake lives in North America and Central America. They are seen in the southwestern United States in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Mexico is also home to this snake. Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua are other places to find the checkered garter snake.

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Checkered garter snakes live in a temperate climate. They’re found in varied habitats including savannahs, deserts, woodlands and grasslands. It’s not unusual to spot these snakes near rivers, ponds and streams.

Activity of this snake increases during mating season in the spring specifically late March to April. Alternatively, they disappear into rock crevices and abandoned burrows in the wintertime to brumate with other garter snakes.

Countries where the checkered garter snake lives:

1. United States
2. Mexico
3. Guatemala
4. Costa Rica
5. Belize
6. Nicaragua
7. Honduras

Scientific Name

Thamnophis marcianus is the scientific name of the checkered garter snake. The name marcianus is a reference to General Marcy, well-known frontier surveyor in the mid-1800s.

It belongs to the Colubridae family and class Reptilia.

The subspecies of this snake include:

• Thamnophis marcianus praeocularis

• Thamnophis marcianus bovalli

Population & Conservation Status

The population of the checkered garter snake varies depending on the region. It’s described by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as abundant in Texas and rare in Costa Rica. As a consequence, there’s not an exact population listed for this garter snake. It’s categorized as Least Concern.

Appearance & Description

The ridged scales on the back of this snake are green with a black and white checkered pattern. There is a long white stripe down the middle of its back all the way to the end of its thin tail. The middle stripe is bordered by two more narrow, white stripes. The snake has a green head with black and white vertical stripes around its mouth. It has a white belly with narrow black bars and round eyes with black pupils.

Normally, the snake is 18 to 24 inches long, but can be as large as 42 inches.

How to identify a checkered garter snake:

• Green base scales with a black and white checkered pattern
• A long white stripe down the middle of its back bordered by two thinner white stripes
• A slender body with a thin tail
• A green head with black and white stripes around its mouth
• A white belly with narrow black bars
• Round pupils

An albino checkered garter snake is a rare find in nature. The albino variety of this snake has white or yellowish scales and red eyes. Otherwise, it’s the same size sharing the same diet and habits as other garter snakes. It’s albino due to a genetic abnormality.

How Dangerous Are They?

Checkered garter snakes have venom but are not dangerous to humans. Their venom is not like the venom of a copperhead or cobra. A checkered garter snake’s venom is so mild it doesn’t pose a threat to people. Furthermore, this snake has small teeth, so its bite feels a lot like a sting.

Though the checkered garter snake is not poisonous to a human, there is some care necessary to address a bite from this reptile.

If the bite breaks through the skin, wash the area with soap and water. Next, apply first-aid cream to stave off infection. Then, cover the bite marks with a bandage to protect it as the skin heals. If a lot of redness or swelling develops around the bite wound, it needs additional care from a medical professional. Some garter snakes carry bacteria in their mouth, so it’s a good idea to get the bite checked if it doesn’t heal in a timely way.

A checkered garter snake has a secret weapon it uses against threats. It has the ability to expel a stinky liquid from its body as a way to make predators (and humans) retreat! The predator is so surprised and grossed out by the stinky liquid it lets the snake go!

Checkered Garter Snake Behavior and Humans

This snake’s wide variety of habitats increases the chances of an encounter with humans. A person who lives near a field, wooded area or even near an overgrown empty lot is more likely to see this snake than someone residing in an urban area. The checkered garter snake is timid and inclined to slither away at the first sign of a human.

These garter snakes eat mice, moles, and other rodents. So, if there’s one living near your property, it’s helping to control the rodent population!

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