Scales: Keeled

Anal Plate: Single

Eastern Garter Snakes are found throughout the eastern half of the United States; from East Texas to Cape Cod, Massachustts. Adults are usually around two feet in length. Like all garter snakes, the Eastern Garter Snake gives birth rather than laying eggs. Eastern Garters are found in habitats such as marshes, wet meadows, and areas with a body of water.

During breeding season, males find female snakes by the species specific pheromone trail that is left by the female on various objects. Specific area where the scent was left on the object helps to give the male bearing on the female's direction (Ford & Lowe 1984). In the northern parts of its range, Garter snakes will hibernate together. In the spring, a breeding mass is formed with 10 to 20 snakes near the hibernation site. Three month after copulation, usually 10 to 20 young (as many as 70) will be born.

Diets consists of frogs, toads, tadpoles, other snakes, fish, earthworms, slugs, carrion, small mammals & birds. Birds make up a small part of Eastern garter snake's diet; records of predation on dark-eyed junco nests was documented (Allan 1979).

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