What Are Garden Snakes?

Garter snakes, commonly known as 'garden snakes', belong to the family Colubridae. They are commonly found in North America. They are also referred to as 'gardener snakes'. Like all snakes, they are carnivorous. They are opportunistic feeders, they tend to eat whatever they can easily overpower. They are immune to the toxic skin secretions of toads and, therefore, can eat toads without any harm. Mostly, they catch live prey. However, they may eat eggs and carrion, especially if live prey is not easily available.

A Typical Menu for Garter Snakes

These snakes have a surprisingly wide diet. A typical menu for garter snakes would include:

  • Small rodents like mice and rabbits
  • Snails and slugs
  • Leeches
  • Earthworms
  • Frogs, tadpoles, and frog spawn
  • Toads
  • Insects like ants
  • Small reptiles like lizards
  • Fish (when living close to water bodies)
  • Eggs, nestlings, and small birds
A common garter snake resting on a garden path, showing its distinctive yellow stripes
The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is the garden visitor most North Americans will recognize.

Take the Garden Snake Diet Quiz!

5 quick questions. Find out how much you know about what garden snakes eat.

How Do Garden Snakes Hunt?

Garden snakes usually hunt in the early morning, late afternoon, and early evening, when the temperature is warm. They find their prey using their good sense of smell. They use various hunting methods such as ambushing, craning, and peering in order to capture prey. They immobilize their prey with their sharp teeth and quick reflexes. Their saliva may be slightly toxic to some of their smaller prey.

A garter snake with tongue flickering, hunting through garden grass and leaf litter in morning light
The flickering tongue picks up scent particles, a garter snake's primary tool for locating prey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do garden snakes eat?

Garden snakes eat small rodents, earthworms, frogs, toads, slugs, snails, insects, small lizards, fish, and occasionally eggs, nestlings, and carrion.

Are garden snakes dangerous to humans?

Garden snakes are generally harmless to humans. Their venom is very low in toxicity and poses no serious threat to people.

When do garden snakes hunt?

Garden snakes usually hunt in the early morning, late afternoon, and early evening when the temperature is warm.

Are Garden Snakes Dangerous to People?

Owing to the low toxicity of their venom, garter snakes are usually harmless to humans. They therefore make good pets. However, venomous or not, it is never a good idea to keep reptiles as pets in households that have small children. Kids are seldom able to handle these creatures properly and, hence, run a high risk of getting nasty, painful bites.

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