Plains Gartersnake

Plains gartersnakes eat a wide variety of prey, including fish, birds, small rodents, earthworms, grasshoppers, salamanders, frogs, and toads.

At the Zoo, they eat earthworms and small mice.

This species is found throughout the North American Great Plains region, from central United States to south-central Canada. The Plains gartersnake was once widespread throughout its range in Ohio but is now only found in a small area within one county in the state.

Plains gartersnakes are found in prairies and other grasslands near sources of water, like ponds, streams, and marshes.

Predators include foxes, coyotes, mink, skunks, hawks, and other birds of prey.

Humans sometimes intentionally kill Plains gartersnakes out of fear. Suburban development and farming have caused significant decline in prairie habitat, especially in Ohio.

Adult Plains gartersnakes have long, dark brown or green bodies with a wide yellow or orange stripe running down their back and two thinner stripes running along their sides. Some snakes may have red coloring on their sides. There is a row of black spots between the top and side stripes. Gartersnakes are non-venomous.

Mating occurs in April or May after they emerge from brumation, which is a reptile form of hibernation through the winter months. Males follow special scent or chemical trails left by female snakes and compete for the opportunity to mate. Both males and females can mate with multiple individuals.

Plains gartersnakes give birth to live young in June through September, with usually 10 to 20 in a litter. Born 5 to 10 inches in length, young snakes are completely independent and do not receive care from parents. Females reach maturity and can breed after two or three years of age.

They find prey, mates, and dens by following chemical trails. Snakes use their forked tongues to pick up chemical particles or scents in the air. Each side of the tongue collects information, which gives snakes a "stereo" sense of smell and helps them follow scent trails more effectively. When a snake pulls its tongue back into its mouth, it transfers the collected chemicals to a special organ called Jacobson’s organ, which is located on the roof of its mouth. This organ helps the snake decode these chemicals into smells that their brain can recognize.

Snakes also use their eyesight and feel vibrations to spot danger and find their way around. During courtship, male snakes often use touch as part of their routines to attract females.

Brumation is a natural state where reptiles reduce their activity levels, metabolism, and bodily functions during cold temperatures. This process helps them survive challenging environmental conditions. Brumation is different from hibernation, which is a similar process in warm-blooded animals. While reptiles in brumation may occasionally wake up and move around, they do so at a much slower pace compared to mammals in hibernation. Plains gartersnakes seek out rodent or crayfish burrows, crevices near rocks or under concrete, or similar sites for brumation.