Where to find garter snakes in california

Threatened or Endangered The San Francisco garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia is federally listed as endangered. Range Contrary to its name, the San Francisco garter snake was historically found wholly within San Mateo County lines. Other Facts Although the San Francisco garter snake is considered beneficial to humans, preying on pests such as small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, they are not to be approached upon sighting. Park Stewardship San Mateo. Mori Point. Related Content.

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Subscribe to the Parks Conservancy's monthly e-newsletter, Park E-ventures, for the latest updates from your favorite national park. Sign me up for Park E-ventures! Identifying California Gartersnakes. Click on a picture for a larger view. Not Dangerous Non-poisonous Gartersnakes do not have venom that is dangerous to most humans. Oregon Gartersnake T hamnophis atratus hydrophilus.

Diablo Range Gartersnake Thamnophis atratus zaxanthus. Sierra Garter Snake Thamnophis couchii. Two-striped Gartersnake Thamnophis hammondii. Marcy's Checkered Gartersnake Thamnophis marcianus marcianus. Mountain Gartersnake Thamnophis elegans elegans. Wandering Gartersnake Thamnophis elegans vagrans. Coast Gartersnake Thamnophis elegans terrestris. Valley Gartersnake Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi. The snakes forage extensively in aquatic habitats. Captive snakes housed in an outside enclosure were observed foraging after dark on warm evenings.

The snakes' preferred habitat is a densely vegetated pond near an open hillside where they can sun themselves, feed, and find cover in rodent burrows; however, considerably less ideal habitats can be successfully occupied. Temporary ponds and other seasonal freshwater bodies are also used. The snakes avoid brackish marsh areas because their preferred prey California red-legged frogs cannot survive in saline water. Emergent and bankside vegetation such as cattails, bulrushes and spike rushes are preferred and used for cover.

The area between stream and pond habitats and grasslands or bank sides is used for basking, while nearby dense vegetation or water often provide escape cover. The snakes also use floating algal or rush mats, if available.

Adult snakes sometimes estivate enter a dormant state in rodent burrows during summer months when ponds dry. On the coast, snakes hibernate during the winter, but further inland, if the weather is suitable, snakes may be active year-round. Recent studies have documented San Francisco garter snake movement over several hundred yards away from wetlands to hibernate in upland small mammal burrows.

Currently, although the geographical distribution may remain the same, reliable information regarding specific locations and population status is not available. Western Terrestrial Garter Snake 3 Thamnophis elegans. Mountain Garter Snake 4 Thamnophis elegans elegans. Giant Garter Snake 5 Thamnophis gigas.

Two-striped Gartersnake 6 Thamnophis hammondii. Checkered Garter Snake 7 Thamnophis marcianus.