PLAINS GARTER SNAKE

 

 

Picture of a plains garter snake

 

 

Area where plains garter snake is found in South Dakota

 

 

 

 

Characteristics:

* Bright yellow or orange single stripe along the middle of the back

* Yellow or orange stripe on each side of body on scale rows 3 and 4 (count from belly scales up)

* Alternating rows of dark spots along each side of body

* Top of the head is dark

* Dark vertical bars on upper lips

* Keeled scales

* Nonvenomous

* Diet: frogs and other aquatic vertebrates, insects, earthworms, and small mammals

* Habitat: open grassland areas near wetlands

* Distribution: statewide