Common name: Plains Gartersnake
Scientific name: Thamnophis radix
How to identify them
If you live in the southern part of Wisconsin you might catch a glimpse of the plains gartersnake. This medium-sized snake has yellow to yellow-orange stripes on its sides. The dark brown to olive back has two rows of alternating dark spots above and below the side stripes. Its belly is yellow to yellowish-green with black spots on the outer edge of the belly scales. All in all, it's a pretty colorful snake.
Where they live
You're most likely to spot this snake in moist, open grassy areas in prairies and oak savannas and along rivers.
What they eat
They like to eat frogs, earthworms, salamander larvae, tadpoles, fish, and beetles.
Did you know?
There are five kinds of gartersnakes in Wisconsin. If you see a gartersnake, you will have to know what to notice to be able to identify which one it is. Try to take pictures that show the head of the snake from the side and from above and the side of the snake a short distance past the neck. You can send pictures to us at naturalist@eekwi.org, and we will try to help you identify it!