long, skinny eastern ribbonsnake resting on dried leaves

Common name: eastern ribbonsnake

Scientific name: Thamnophis sauritus

 

eastern ribbonsnake infographic

How to identify them

Ribbon gartersnakes resemble other gartersnakes at first glance. However, they are usually much more slender. They have white bellies, often turning yellow near the tail. Their lower "lips" are white with no markings.

Where they live

There are only a handful of reports of this snake being seen in Wisconsin. They seem to like sphagnum bogs in south central and eastern Wisconsin where they may be found warming themselves in leatherleaf, blueberry, or snowberry brush.

What they eat

Favorite foods include frogs, salamanders, fish, and caterpillars.

Did you know?

Ribbonsnakes are fast! They often escape to water. When they enter the water, they can glide across the surface like a skater.