Observations by furlonei

Scientific & Common Names
The Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis), also known as the common garter snake is the most wide-spread reptile in Ontario. The Eastern Garter Snake usually has three definitive stripes: one on each side of the body and one on the back. Interestingly, the ground colour is not always dark brown as depicted in the images, as it can vary from olive to brown to black. In addition, there is often black or reddish checkered spot pattern between the stripes and the stripes are normally yellow.

Habitat & Geographic Range
The eastern garter snake can be found in many areas in Ontario, Western Quebec, and many subspecies are located throughout most of the United States, except in areas of the southwest where the climate is very dry. They tend to be found moist and grassy environments such as in forests, wetlands, fields, scrublands, and rocky areas. Thus, it is common for these snakes to be near ponds, ditches, lakes, rivers and streams.
Size/ Weight & Lifespan
The average lifespan of an Eastern Garter Snake in the wild is approximately 2 years. However, snakes within captivity have the capability of surviving of surviving up to 10 years. This species can grow over a meter in length, but are usually between 46 to 137 centimeters and have an average mass of 150g. In the case of the garter snake photographed, it is roughly 70 cm and is estimated to be around weight of 140 grams.
Diet
The activity of ectotherms such as the Eastern Garter snake are under strong influence of their thermal environment, as their body temperature is controlled by the exchange of heat between the body and the external environment. The degree of exchange that occurs is what controls the interactions of the animal’s biochemical, physiological and behavioural processes. As a result, their fitness is indirectly influenced by their thermal environment. Thus, in order to maximize fitness, an ectoderm must perform behaviours on the basis of how much thermal energy is available. This is especially important in cases of anti-predatory, defense, feeding and reproductive behaviors.
In terms of feeding behaviour, Eastern Garter Snakes diet consists of: toads, frogs, salamanders, earthworms, small mice and fish. The eastern garter snake finds prey using smell and vision. They can apply various different hunting methods based on their movement such as craning, peering, and ambushing to capture their prey and immobilize their prey by using their very sharp teeth and rapid reflexes.
Reproduction
The Eastern Garter Snake usually begin mating in the spring after emergence from hibernation, however they can sometimes mate in the fall. Males exit the den first and wait for females to leave, once the females have left, males release pheromones in an attempt to attract the females. After, the female has selected her mate and mated, she returns to the original summer habitat to feed and find an adequate place to give birth. In this species, males are promiscuous, as they re-mate with other females. The Eastern Garter snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they bear live young. The young are incubated in the lower abdomen until the ending of 3 to 4 month gestation period. Females usually give rise to 10 to 30 young. The amount of young produced is dependent on the size of the female, so larger females tend to produce more young.
Communication
In terms of communication, they primarily communicate through touch and smell, and do not communicate with other snakes often outside of the breeding season. They utilize their forked tongues to collect the chemicals in the air and subsequently insert their forks into an organ in the roof of their mouth responsible for interpretation of pheromones; chemical signals. Eastern Garter snakes can use pheromones as a tracking mechanism, allowing them to locate other snakes by the unique pheromones given off which leaves a trail.
Predation
The Eastern Garter snakes are eaten by a wide variety of animals including: snapping turtles, large fish, bullfrogs, hawks, great blue herons and raccoons. They depend on camouflage for protection as their spots make them hard to see. In cases of predation, they may go into the water to flee predators on land, and if unable to escape will coil up to appear larger. If threatened they may strike and bite. If that fails and they are attacked they will writhe and release a malodourous secretion.
Conservation Status
The conservation status Eastern Garter snakes is of the least concern, as neither the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario has evaluated the status of The Garter Snake. In addition the species is not protected under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, and not listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Did you know?

Female Eastern Garter snakes, like many other reptiles, are able to store the male’s sperm until it is required. This process is known as “delayed fertilization”, and is particularly useful for Eastern Garter snakes as they may sometimes mate in the fall. This enables them to store the deposited sperm over the winter, thus controlling the entrance of the sperm into the seminal receptacles until the spring to begin the gestation period.

Scientific & Common Names
The Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis), also known as the common garter snake is the most wide-spread reptile in Ontario. The Eastern Garter Snake usually has three definitive stripes: one on each side of the body and one on the back. Interestingly, the ground colour is not always dark brown as depicted in the images, as it can vary from olive to brown to black. In addition, there is often black or reddish checkered spot pattern between the stripes and the stripes are normally yellow.

Habitat & Geographic Range
The eastern garter snake can be found in many areas in Ontario, Western Quebec, and many subspecies are located throughout most of the United States, except in areas of the southwest where the climate is very dry. They tend to be found moist and grassy environments such as in forests, wetlands, fields, scrublands, and rocky areas. Thus, it is common for these snakes to be near ponds, ditches, lakes, rivers and streams.
Size/ Weight & Lifespan
The average lifespan of an Eastern Garter Snake in the wild is approximately 2 years. However, snakes within captivity have the capability of surviving of surviving up to 10 years. This species can grow over a meter in length, but are usually between 46 to 137 centimeters and have an average mass of 150g. In the case of the garter snake photographed, it is roughly 70 cm and is estimated to be around weight of 140 grams.
Diet
The activity of ectotherms such as the Eastern Garter snake are under strong influence of their thermal environment, as their body temperature is controlled by the exchange of heat between the body and the external environment. The degree of exchange that occurs is what controls the interactions of the animal’s biochemical, physiological and behavioural processes. As a result, their fitness is indirectly influenced by their thermal environment. Thus, in order to maximize fitness, an ectoderm must perform behaviours on the basis of how much thermal energy is available. This is especially important in cases of anti-predatory, defense, feeding and reproductive behaviors.
In terms of feeding behaviour, Eastern Garter Snakes diet consists of: toads, frogs, salamanders, earthworms, small mice and fish. The eastern garter snake finds prey using smell and vision. They can apply various different hunting methods based on their movement such as craning, peering, and ambushing to capture their prey and immobilize their prey by using their very sharp teeth and rapid reflexes.
Reproduction
The Eastern Garter Snake usually begin mating in the spring after emergence from hibernation, however they can sometimes mate in the fall. Males exit the den first and wait for females to leave, once the females have left, males release pheromones in an attempt to attract the females. After, the female has selected her mate and mated, she returns to the original summer habitat to feed and find an adequate place to give birth. In this species, males are promiscuous, as they re-mate with other females. The Eastern Garter snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they bear live young. The young are incubated in the lower abdomen until the ending of 3 to 4 month gestation period. Females usually give rise to 10 to 30 young. The amount of young produced is dependent on the size of the female, so larger females tend to produce more young.
Communication
In terms of communication, they primarily communicate through touch and smell, and do not communicate with other snakes often outside of the breeding season. They utilize their forked tongues to collect the chemicals in the air and subsequently insert their forks into an organ in the roof of their mouth responsible for interpretation of pheromones; chemical signals. Eastern Garter snakes can use pheromones as a tracking mechanism, allowing them to locate other snakes by the unique pheromones given off which leaves a trail.
Predation
The Eastern Garter snakes are eaten by a wide variety of animals including: snapping turtles, large fish, bullfrogs, hawks, great blue herons and raccoons. They depend on camouflage for protection as their spots make them hard to see. In cases of predation, they may go into the water to flee predators on land, and if unable to escape will coil up to appear larger. If threatened they may strike and bite. If that fails and they are attacked they will writhe and release a malodourous secretion.
Conservation Status
The conservation status Eastern Garter snakes is of the least concern, as neither the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario has evaluated the status of The Garter Snake. In addition the species is not protected under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, and not listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Did you know?

Female Eastern Garter snakes, like many other reptiles, are able to store the male’s sperm until it is required. This process is known as “delayed fertilization”, and is particularly useful for Eastern Garter snakes as they may sometimes mate in the fall. This enables them to store the deposited sperm over the winter, thus controlling the entrance of the sperm into the seminal receptacles until the spring to begin the gestation period.

Scientific & Common Names
The Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis), also known as the common garter snake is the most wide-spread reptile in Ontario. The Eastern Garter Snake usually has three definitive stripes: one on each side of the body and one on the back. Interestingly, the ground colour is not always dark brown as depicted in the images, as it can vary from olive to brown to black. In addition, there is often black or reddish checkered spot pattern between the stripes and the stripes are normally yellow.

Habitat & Geographic Range
The eastern garter snake can be found in many areas in Ontario, Western Quebec, and many subspecies are located throughout most of the United States, except in areas of the southwest where the climate is very dry. They tend to be found moist and grassy environments such as in forests, wetlands, fields, scrublands, and rocky areas. Thus, it is common for these snakes to be near ponds, ditches, lakes, rivers and streams.
Size/ Weight & Lifespan
The average lifespan of an Eastern Garter Snake in the wild is approximately 2 years. However, snakes within captivity have the capability of surviving of surviving up to 10 years. This species can grow over a meter in length, but are usually between 46 to 137 centimeters and have an average mass of 150g. In the case of the garter snake photographed, it is roughly 70 cm and is estimated to be around weight of 140 grams.
Diet
The activity of ectotherms such as the Eastern Garter snake are under strong influence of their thermal environment, as their body temperature is controlled by the exchange of heat between the body and the external environment. The degree of exchange that occurs is what controls the interactions of the animal’s biochemical, physiological and behavioural processes. As a result, their fitness is indirectly influenced by their thermal environment. Thus, in order to maximize fitness, an ectoderm must perform behaviours on the basis of how much thermal energy is available. This is especially important in cases of anti-predatory, defense, feeding and reproductive behaviors.
In terms of feeding behaviour, Eastern Garter Snakes diet consists of: toads, frogs, salamanders, earthworms, small mice and fish. The eastern garter snake finds prey using smell and vision. They can apply various different hunting methods based on their movement such as craning, peering, and ambushing to capture their prey and immobilize their prey by using their very sharp teeth and rapid reflexes.
Reproduction
The Eastern Garter Snake usually begin mating in the spring after emergence from hibernation, however they can sometimes mate in the fall. Males exit the den first and wait for females to leave, once the females have left, males release pheromones in an attempt to attract the females. After, the female has selected her mate and mated, she returns to the original summer habitat to feed and find an adequate place to give birth. In this species, males are promiscuous, as they re-mate with other females. The Eastern Garter snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they bear live young. The young are incubated in the lower abdomen until the ending of 3 to 4 month gestation period. Females usually give rise to 10 to 30 young. The amount of young produced is dependent on the size of the female, so larger females tend to produce more young.
Communication
In terms of communication, they primarily communicate through touch and smell, and do not communicate with other snakes often outside of the breeding season. They utilize their forked tongues to collect the chemicals in the air and subsequently insert their forks into an organ in the roof of their mouth responsible for interpretation of pheromones; chemical signals. Eastern Garter snakes can use pheromones as a tracking mechanism, allowing them to locate other snakes by the unique pheromones given off which leaves a trail.
Predation
The Eastern Garter snakes are eaten by a wide variety of animals including: snapping turtles, large fish, bullfrogs, hawks, great blue herons and raccoons. They depend on camouflage for protection as their spots make them hard to see. In cases of predation, they may go into the water to flee predators on land, and if unable to escape will coil up to appear larger. If threatened they may strike and bite. If that fails and they are attacked they will writhe and release a malodourous secretion.
Conservation Status
The conservation status Eastern Garter snakes is of the least concern, as neither the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario has evaluated the status of The Garter Snake. In addition the species is not protected under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, and not listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Did you know?

Female Eastern Garter snakes, like many other reptiles, are able to store the male’s sperm until it is required. This process is known as “delayed fertilization”, and is particularly useful for Eastern Garter snakes as they may sometimes mate in the fall. This enables them to store the deposited sperm over the winter, thus controlling the entrance of the sperm into the seminal receptacles until the spring to begin the gestation period.

Scientific & Common Names
The Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis), also known as the common garter snake is the most wide-spread reptile in Ontario. The Eastern Garter Snake usually has three definitive stripes: one on each side of the body and one on the back. Interestingly, the ground colour is not always dark brown as depicted in the images, as it can vary from olive to brown to black. In addition, there is often black or reddish checkered spot pattern between the stripes and the stripes are normally yellow.

Habitat & Geographic Range
The eastern garter snake can be found in many areas in Ontario, Western Quebec, and many subspecies are located throughout most of the United States, except in areas of the southwest where the climate is very dry. They tend to be found moist and grassy environments such as in forests, wetlands, fields, scrublands, and rocky areas. Thus, it is common for these snakes to be near ponds, ditches, lakes, rivers and streams.
Size/ Weight & Lifespan
The average lifespan of an Eastern Garter Snake in the wild is approximately 2 years. However, snakes within captivity have the capability of surviving of surviving up to 10 years. This species can grow over a meter in length, but are usually between 46 to 137 centimeters and have an average mass of 150g. In the case of the garter snake photographed, it is roughly 70 cm and is estimated to be around weight of 140 grams.
Diet
The activity of ectotherms such as the Eastern Garter snake are under strong influence of their thermal environment, as their body temperature is controlled by the exchange of heat between the body and the external environment. The degree of exchange that occurs is what controls the interactions of the animal’s biochemical, physiological and behavioural processes. As a result, their fitness is indirectly influenced by their thermal environment. Thus, in order to maximize fitness, an ectoderm must perform behaviours on the basis of how much thermal energy is available. This is especially important in cases of anti-predatory, defense, feeding and reproductive behaviors.
In terms of feeding behaviour, Eastern Garter Snakes diet consists of: toads, frogs, salamanders, earthworms, small mice and fish. The eastern garter snake finds prey using smell and vision. They can apply various different hunting methods based on their movement such as craning, peering, and ambushing to capture their prey and immobilize their prey by using their very sharp teeth and rapid reflexes.
Reproduction
The Eastern Garter Snake usually begin mating in the spring after emergence from hibernation, however they can sometimes mate in the fall. Males exit the den first and wait for females to leave, once the females have left, males release pheromones in an attempt to attract the females. After, the female has selected her mate and mated, she returns to the original summer habitat to feed and find an adequate place to give birth. In this species, males are promiscuous, as they re-mate with other females. The Eastern Garter snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they bear live young. The young are incubated in the lower abdomen until the ending of 3 to 4 month gestation period. Females usually give rise to 10 to 30 young. The amount of young produced is dependent on the size of the female, so larger females tend to produce more young.
Communication
In terms of communication, they primarily communicate through touch and smell, and do not communicate with other snakes often outside of the breeding season. They utilize their forked tongues to collect the chemicals in the air and subsequently insert their forks into an organ in the roof of their mouth responsible for interpretation of pheromones; chemical signals. Eastern Garter snakes can use pheromones as a tracking mechanism, allowing them to locate other snakes by the unique pheromones given off which leaves a trail.
Predation
The Eastern Garter snakes are eaten by a wide variety of animals including: snapping turtles, large fish, bullfrogs, hawks, great blue herons and raccoons. They depend on camouflage for protection as their spots make them hard to see. In cases of predation, they may go into the water to flee predators on land, and if unable to escape will coil up to appear larger. If threatened they may strike and bite. If that fails and they are attacked they will writhe and release a malodourous secretion.
Conservation Status
The conservation status Eastern Garter snakes is of the least concern, as neither the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario has evaluated the status of The Garter Snake. In addition the species is not protected under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, and not listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Did you know?

Female Eastern Garter snakes, like many other reptiles, are able to store the male’s sperm until it is required. This process is known as “delayed fertilization”, and is particularly useful for Eastern Garter snakes as they may sometimes mate in the fall. This enables them to store the deposited sperm over the winter, thus controlling the entrance of the sperm into the seminal receptacles until the spring to begin the gestation period.