A garter snake is a small snake common across North America, named for the colorful stripes running down its body that reminded people of the decorative cloth bands (called garters) once used to hold up stockings. These stripes usually come in combinations of yellow, green, blue, or red against darker backgrounds.

Garter snakes rarely grow longer than two or three feet and are generally not dangerous to humans. Their mild venom helps them catch small prey, but it is not considered medically important for most people. They are actually helpful to have around because they eat slugs, insects, and small rodents that damage gardens. If you spot one sunning itself on a warm rock or slithering through tall grass, it will likely disappear quickly: garter snakes are much more afraid of you than you are of them.

These snakes adapt well to different environments, living near streams, in meadows, and even in suburban backyards. Unlike many snakes that lay eggs, garter snakes give birth to live baby snakes, sometimes dozens at once. In colder regions, they hibernate together in large groups underground during winter, returning to the same den year after year. For many people, a garter snake is the first snake they encounter in the wild, making it a gentle introduction to these fascinating reptiles.