Garden Snake Identification What Does A Garden Snake Look Like

Garden snakes, nicknamed garter snakes, come in many varieties, various colors and have different markings, depending on your area of the country. These snakes are usually brown or black but may be a greenish color. Most have a checkerboard pattern near the stripes.

How do you tell if a snake is a garden snake?

Look for three stripes running the length of the snake's body. They may be easily distinguishable or appear faded. One stripe will run down the center of the snake's back, the other two on each side of its body. Common colors are yellow, brown or blue.

What's the difference between a garter snake and a garden snake?

“Garter snake” is a traditional American term for small harmless snakes with stripes running lengthwise along their bodies, resembling old-fashioned garters. It is more broadly used for all manner of small non-venomous snakes. Many folks don't get the allusion, and call them “gardener snakes” instead.

How do I know what kind of snake is in my yard?

These three identifiers: body length and width, head shape, and eye characteristics will narrow down the possibilities for species identification. Color is usually very helpful in determining the type of snake you have located. Many snakes have distinctive patterns. Noting the patterns and the colors is very important.

What Colour are garden snakes?

Description: Garter snakes are typically 60 centimetres long. While their colouring varies greatly, they are generally recognized by a dark body with three light-coloured stripes down their back and sides (usually shades of yellow, red or orange).

Is garden snake dangerous?

Although the toxins in garden snake saliva can be deadly to the snails, salamanders and other animals they eat [source: Venomous Snakes], they're not dangerous to humans. Nevertheless, a garden snake bite may still cause redness, swelling and discomfort [source: Michaels].

How do you get rid of garden snakes?

What You Can Do to Get Rid of Snakes in the Yard

Rake flower beds and clean up loose, dead or overgrown vegetation.
Remove any standing or overflowing water sources.
Seal cracks and crevices on the foundation of your home, paying close attention to window wells, screens, doorways, etc.

Are garter snakes good to have in your yard?

A few garter snakes in the garden can be a good thing. They eat insects and other pests, so they can control those pests that harm your plants. You don't want a large number of these snakes in your garden, however. Garter snakes will call your yard home when it provides the right conditions.

Can a garter snake kill a dog?

Garter snakes see among the most harmless of all snakes. They are not venomous and are very shy and small. They cannot harm a dog or cat and are far, far more likely to be killed by your dog.

Do garter snake bites hurt?

While most species are classified as harmless (non-venomous), their bite can cause minor swelling or itching in humans, and anyone bitten by a garter snake should clean the bite thoroughly. It is not ultimately a cause for concern.

What smell do snakes hate?

What scents do snakes dislike? There are many scents snakes don't like including smoke, cinnamon, cloves, onions, garlic, and lime. You can use oils or sprays containing these fragrances or grow plants featuring these scents.

Do garter snakes live in holes?

Garter snakes don't create and burrow their own holes. They utilize the holes of other animals or natural cracks in the soil.

What does a common garden snake look like?

Garden snakes, nicknamed garter snakes, come in many varieties, various colors and have different markings, depending on your area of the country. These snakes are usually brown or black but may be a greenish color. Most have a checkerboard pattern near the stripes.

Are garden snakes poisonous to dogs?

Garter snakes are considered mildly venomous, meaning a bite from one could cause irritation but shouldn't be serious. If your pooch has an encounter with a garter snake, his reaction will depend on what kind of interaction he's had with it. If he killed the snake without ingesting any of it, he should be fine.

What time of day are garter snakes most active?

Common garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) are active mainly during the day and are active through a wider range of temperatures than most snakes. They hibernate from late October through March or early April, but can be found basking on rocks during mild winter days.

Should I kill garter snakes?

Because garter snakes can be helpful in our environment, we don't recommend killing them if you spot them in your yard. Here are some ways to safely remove them without killing: Trim your bushes – without overgrown bushes, they'll have nowhere to hide. Mow your lawn for the same reason.

Are garden snakes friendly?

Garter snakes, for instance, can, in fact, be a gardener's best friend. Garter snakes are harmless to humans and love to bask in the warm sun in and around garden areas. Unfortunately, many people kill these garden snakes before they realize just how beneficial they can be.

What is a home remedy to get rid of garden snakes?

Pour white vinegar around the perimeter of any body of water for a natural snake repellent. Lime: Create a mixture of snake repellent lime and hot pepper or peppermint and pour it around the perimeter of your home or property. Snakes don't like the smell of the mixture and the fumes are also itchy on their skin.

Can snakes enter a house through the toilet?

Yes, the one on the roof. Since bathroom plumbing is usually connected through ventilation pipes on the roof, snakes can slither their way through the ventilation system and, soon, into your john.

What attracts snakes to your house?

A snake may be attracted to houses or yards if there is shelter and food that are unknowingly being provided by humans. Taipans and brown snakes eat rodents and they are attracted to farm sheds or gardens where they can hunt mice or rats. The python may eat chickens or other birds.

What do you do if you find a baby snake in your yard?

If you encounter a venomous snake in your yard, take it seriously. The snake should be removed to ensure that no one, including pets, gets hurt. Note: This does not mean the snake has to be killed. In many places, you can call animal-control or local police or fire departments to remove the snake.