Northwestern Garter Snake

Thamnophis ordinoides (Baird and Girard, 1852)

French Name Couleuvre du nord-ouest
Spanish Name Culebra de Agua Nómada del Noroeste
Max. Recorded Length 96.5 cm / 38 inches
Range British Columbia, California, Oregon, Washington
Pet Trade Availability ★★☆☆ sometimes available
Captivity Rating ★★★☆ good

Note: These species pages are in various stages of completion. Some are basically finished; others are very much under construction. Please be patient while I work on this section.

Description

Conservation

Captive Care

One of Rossi and Rossi’s soft-eaters.

If you have experience with this species and would like to share, please contact me.

For general information on keeping garter snakes in captivity, please see the Care Guide.

Articles and News

Sources

Bartlett, R. D. and Alan Tennant. 1997. Snakes of North America: Western Region. Houston: Gulf.

Brown, Philip R. 1997. A Field Guide to Snakes of California. Houston: Gulf.

Ernst, Carl H. and Evelyn M. Ernst. 2003. Snakes of the United States and Canada. Washington: Smithsonian Books.

Perlowin, David. 1994. The General Care and Maintenance of Garter Snakes and Water Snakes. Lakeside CA: Advanced Vivarium Systems.

———. 2005. Garter and Water Snakes. Irvine CA: Advanced Vivarium Systems.

Rossi, John V. and Roxanne Rossi. 2003. Snakes of the United States and Canada: Natural History and Care in Captivity. Malabar FL: Krieger.

Rossman, Douglas A., Neil B. Ford and Richard A. Seigel. 1996. The Garter Snakes: Evolution and Ecology. Norman OK: University of Oklahoma Press.

St. John, Alan. 2002. Reptiles of the Northwest. Edmonton: Lone Pine.

Sweeney, Roger. 1992. The Garter Snakes: Natural History and Care in Captivity. London: Blandford.