Reptile/Amphibian
Common Garter Snake
Maine's most familiar snake, and a totally harmless neighbor
Everywhere You Look
Unsurprisingly, the common garter snake is the most common snake in Maine. They’re found statewide in forests, fields, meadows, bogs, marshes, and under just about any rock, log, or debris pile it can find.
Garden Friend
Garter snakes give birth to live young between July and mid-September. If you pick one up and it releases a musky odor, that's just its defense mechanism – completely harmless. These snakes are great to have around and ask for nothing in return except to be left alone.
Quick Facts
Average Size
Ranging from about 18-36 inches long. Slender, quick, and built low to the ground.
What's on the Menu
Earthworms make up 60-95% of their diet, though they'll also eat other invertebrates, amphibians, fish, and occasionally small birds.
The Look
They love a neutral tones – browns, olive, or grayish above with a darker checkerboard pattern and a splash of color with three light yellowish stripes.
