Butler's Garter Snake
Thamnophis butleri
A small garter snake of the Great Lakes region, notable for its short head and worm-hunting habits.
- Venomous?
- Mildly venomous
- Adult length
- 0.4-0.7 m (1.3-2.3 ft)
- Range
- Great Lakes region of the United States and southern Ontario, Canada
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Overview
Butler's garter snake is a small, secretive species found in a limited area around the Great Lakes, from Wisconsin and Michigan into Indiana, Ohio, and southern Ontario.
It is closely tied to open, grassy habitats and is often found under cover objects while hunting earthworms, its primary prey.
How to identify it
- Small head barely wider than the neck
- Brown to olive-black background
- Three yellowish stripes running the length of the body, with the lateral stripes on lower scale rows than most garter snakes
- Keeled scales
- Distinguished from similar garter snakes by its notably small head and low placement of lateral stripes
Habitat & range
Found in wet meadows, prairies, marsh edges, and vacant lots across a limited range in the western Great Lakes region, including Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and southern Ontario.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Diurnal and secretive, often found under logs, boards, or debris. Feeds primarily on earthworms, occasionally taking small amphibians. Bears live young in late summer. Considered locally threatened in parts of its limited range due to habitat loss.
Frequently asked questions
What does Butler's garter snake eat?
It feeds mainly on earthworms, unlike many garter snakes that rely heavily on fish and amphibians.
Where is it found?
It has a limited range around the Great Lakes, including Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and southern Ontario.
How can it be told apart from other garter snakes?
Its unusually small head and lower-positioned lateral stripes help distinguish it from similar species.
Is it dangerous to humans?
No, it is harmless to people and only mildly venomous to small prey.
Butler's Garter Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Butler's Garter Snake.
