RAINYRAMBLES
For goodness, snakes
Slithering creatures linger
in backyards, gardens
BY REBECCA LEXA
One of the great things about the Colum-
bia-Pacific region is just how much wild-
life is abundant in the area. Even most of the
region’s developed areas have a good amount
of green space that attracts not just birds and
small animals, but elk, deer and occasionally
even black bears.
Some of these animals are a little easier
for most folks to live with than others, and
the feeling is mutual, since some species are
less tolerant of us.
Among those commonly found in yards
are garter snakes. Two species are common
throughout the region, the common garter
snake and the northwestern garter snake.
Both species often appear as very dark
green with slender pale stripes running down
the length of their bodies. Their heads are
small with a gently tapered end and their eyes
have round pupils. Even the longest speci-
mens, which may be up to 4 1/2 feet in the
case of the common garter snake, rarely
reach more than a few inches in circumfer-
ence. When upset, garter snakes may emit a
smelly musk to drive off danger, however,
they rarely bite.
They do have very small teeth that
become slightly larger toward the back of
the mouth. Contrary to popular opinion, gar-
ter snakes are venomous, but their venom
is weak enough to only be a little irritating
to humans at the most. It does a good job of
helping them subdue their prey, though.
Both of these regional garter snake species
can be highly variable in color. In addition to
the classic green hue with pale yellow stripes,
they may show stripes or specks of red and
blue. A frequently seen morph of the north-
western garter snake features dark green with
only one stripe, or none at all. The red-spot-
ted subspecies of common garter snake has
bright red checkered spots in between its
stripes.
The snakes’ variability in color can some-
times make it difficult to tell the difference
between the two species. Northwestern gar-
ter snakes are usually smaller than common
garter snakes. The latter species’ head is a lit-
tle more robust than the northwestern garter’s
head, which isn’t much wider than the neck.
The common garter snake’s eyes are also big-
ger in proportion to its head.
Habitat sometimes differs between the
16 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
Photos by Rebecca Lexa
A small garter snake is held by a doorway.
two species. Common garter snakes are more
attracted to water, where they may hunt tad-
poles and minnows along with terrestrial
prey. Northwestern garter snakes usually
stick to wooded areas and nearby clearings
where they hunt a variety of invertebrates,
frogs and birds. It’s not uncommon to find
both species in the same area, though.
In addition to these two species, some
anecdotal reports of the rubber boa snake
have surfaced, particularly around Cape Dis-
appointment State Park. iNaturalist, a spe-
cies identification database, doesn’t currently
show any observations of this species fur-
ther west than the eastern slopes of the Coast
Range, though it’s not for lack of suitable
habitat. They are much more nocturnal than
garter snakes, so less likely to be sighted,
and their plain brown color makes wonder-
ful camouflage for them if spotted during the
day.
Some are still resistant to all snake spe-
cies, which is difficult since garter snakes
tend to do well in yards and gardens. It’s
important to remember that garter snakes are
harmless to humans, and that even venomous
snakes just want to be left alone. Moreover,
gardeners should be glad to see these reptiles
around, as they hunt the slugs that go after
vegetables and other plants, and also keep
some other pesky critters in check.
Finally, please don’t handle these snakes
more than necessary. While they are less
aggressive than some other species, han-
dling can be very stressful for them. It can
lead to potentially fatal injuries for the snake.
Appreciate them from a respectful distance,
and allow these remarkable little reptiles the
space and safety they need to live their lives.
Rebecca Lexa is a naturalist, nature edu-
cator, tour guide and writer living on the
Long Beach Peninsula. Find more about her
work at rebeccalexa.com.
TOP: A northwestern garter snake, commonly seen in the Columbia-Pacific region. ABOVE: A
northwestern garter snake slithers along a rocky surface.