Thamnophis elegans

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake

Identification/Variations: Despite its name, the Western Terrestrial Garter Snake is mostly aquatic and is found near meadows, marshes, ponds, and lakes. In southwest Oregon this snake tends to be black with white or yellow stripes and it may be confused with the Northwestern Garter Snake in this region. In extreme southwest Oregon and south into California this snake often has significant red markings, but not in the same manner as the Common Garter Snake. In the Puget Sound area this snake is a gray or brown color with yellow stripes. See my notes below regarding variations of the snake.

Range/Habitat: This snake is found in the Puget Sound, the Willamette Valley, and the Rogue and Umpqua Valleys west of the Cascade Mountains. They also occur on Vancouver Island and southwest British Columbia. To the east they are more widespread and are found in Idaho and Montana south to Arizona and New Mexico.

Notes: There are 3 distinct variations of this snake widely recognized in our area. In the Puget Sound and Vancouver Island areas we have the Wandering Garter Snake. In the valleys of southwest Oregon into California this snake is called the Mountain Garter Snake. Along the California and southern Oregon coast these snakes are called the Coast Garter Snake. Additionally populations in the Klamath basin of southern Oregon are considered by some as an integration area of the Mountain Garter Snake and the Wandering Garter Snake. Others recognize this population as a distinct variation called the Klamath Garter Snake.

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