Mather Field Vernal Pools Garter Snakes

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Mather Field Vernal Pools common name Garter Snakes Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis scientific (Common Garter Snake) names Thamnophis elegans elegans (Western Terrestrial Garter Snake) phylum Chordata class Reptilia order Squamata family Colubridae habitat vernal pool grasslands and many other habitats, often near water size 0.46 to 1.3 meters © Ken Davis description The Common (or Valley) Garter Snake is easily identifiable by a black body, yellow stripes down the back, and red blotches on the sides. The Western Terrestrial Garter Snake has a black or dark gray back with a dull yellow stripe down the middle. The dark background color has tiny white spots, which can be hard to see. fun facts When handled or otherwise disturbed, Garter Snakes usually release a stinky- smelling musk. life cycle During the winter, Garter Snakes hibernate under rocks and rotting logs, and in rodent burrows. They select mates in the spring after they come out of hibernation. In July, seven to thirty young are born live. ecology Garter Snakes feed on many different animals, including fish, frogs, toads, salamanders, insects, and earthworms. They are excellent swimmers and are usually found close to some source of water. They are eaten by a variety of mammals, birds and other snakes. conservation Some people kill snakes because they are afraid that the snakes might hurt them. They do not realize that the snakes are even more afraid of humans than we are of them! Garter Snakes, like many snakes, play an important role in controlling populations of rodents. Rodents are a group of mammals that includes mice, pocket gophers, voles, ground squirrels and other species. investigate Garter Snakes are one of the most common snakes at Mather Field. With luck (and quiet movement) you may see one slithering through the grass as you approach. If you inspect the ground you will see how much habitat is created for snakes by the burrowing rodents in the vernal pools and grasslands. The burrows of the California Vole and Botta’s Pocket Gopher are everywhere and they are great places for snakes to seek protection from sun, cold, predators and you! Many of their prey hide in those same underground shelters. ©.

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References for Life History
Literature Cited Adler, K. 1979. A brief history of herpetology in North America before 1900. Soc. Study Amphib. Rept., Herpetol. Cir. 8:1-40. 1989. Herpetologists of the past. In K. Adler (ed.). Contributions to the History of Herpetology, pp. 5-141. Soc. Study Amphib. Rept., Contrib. Herpetol. no. 5. Agassiz, L. 1857. Contributions to the Natural History of the United States of America. 2 Vols. Little, Brown and Co., Boston. 452 pp. Albers, P. H., L. Sileo, and B. M. Mulhern. 1986. Effects of environmental contaminants on snapping turtles of a tidal wetland. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol, 15:39-49. Aldridge, R. D. 1992. Oviductal anatomy and seasonal sperm storage in the southeastern crowned snake (Tantilla coronata). Copeia 1992:1103-1106. Aldridge, R. D., J. J. Greenshaw, and M. V. Plummer. 1990. The male reproductive cycle of the rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus). Amphibia-Reptilia 11:165-172. Aldridge, R. D., and R. D. Semlitsch. 1992a. Female reproductive biology of the southeastern crowned snake (Tantilla coronata). Amphibia-Reptilia 13:209-218. 1992b. Male reproductive biology of the southeastern crowned snake (Tantilla coronata). Amphibia-Reptilia 13:219-225. Alexander, M. M. 1943. Food habits of the snapping turtle in Connecticut. J. Wildl. Manag. 7:278-282. Allard, H. A. 1945. A color variant of the eastern worm snake. Copeia 1945:42. 1948. The eastern box turtle and its behavior. J. Tenn. Acad. Sci. 23:307-321. Allen, W. H. 1988. Biocultural restoration of a tropical forest. Bioscience 38:156-161. Anonymous. 1961. Albinism in southeastern snakes. Virginia Herpetol. Soc. Bull.
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