Hobbies And Interests
Common Garter Snake
The common garter snake is common throughout the state of Illinois and is similar to both the eastern ribbon snake and the western garter snake. It has a gray or yellow stripe on the mid back and side stripes of yellow. The underside is green-gray. The common garter snake inhabits the edge of forests and is often found near water. It can also be found in open lots in urban environments. During winter, this snake may sometimes come out of hibernation to enjoy sunny winter days. It feeds on frogs, chicks, fish and insects and is itself the prey of many vertebrates. Though it is quick to bite when handled, this non-venomous snake is often unnecessarily killed by people.
Western Ribbon Snake
The western ribbon snake is formally known as Thamnophis proximus, a subspecies of garter snake that is found in Illinois. It can grow up to 34.5 inches and besides Illinois, it is found in other parts of the United States as well as in Mexico and Central America. Key characteristics of this snake are the orange stripe along its mid back and paired light spots on the head. It has a pair of yellowish or green stripes on its sides and a greenish white underside. It is found in vegetation surrounding ponds, rivers, swamps and marshes and hibernates at the bottom of rocky outcrops. The western ribbon snake will bite when handled and climbs or swims readily.
Plains Garter Snake
Thamnophis radix is common in the northern half of Illinois. This species of garter snake is medium size and is black or dark brown with a yellowish-gray stripe along either side and a distinctive orange-yellow stripe on the mid-back. Its underside is gray-green edged with darkish spots. It feeds on slugs, frogs and earthworms. When handled, it bites less frequently than the common garter snake. The plains garter snake lives in fields, meadows, marshes, open lots and pastures. It is often killed by cars in autumn as it makes its way to its hibernation locations.
Eastern Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis sauritus is endangered in Illinois. The draining of swamps and the decline in aquatic vegetation has lead to its threatened status. The eastern ribbon snake is a thin black snake that has a stripe along its back that is yellow and a strip of yellow along each side. This medium-size snake feeds mostly on amphibians but will also eat fish and insects. Among its predators are larger snakes, aquatic birds and mammals. It inhabits swamps, vegetation around bodies of water, and forests.