Common Garter Snake
Common Garter SnakeCommon Garter SnakeCommon Garter SnakeCommon Garter Snake

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
Insufficient data
overall probability at Badlands National Park
3 Verified records at Badlands National Park
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is indigenous to North America and found widely across the continent. There are several recognized subspecies. Most common garter snakes have a pattern of yellow stripes on a black, brown or green background, and their average total length (including tail) is about 55 cm (22 in), with a maximum total length of about 137 cm (54 in). The average body mass is 150 g (5.3 oz). The common garter snake is the state reptile of Massachusetts. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Badlands National Park

Plains Garter Snake
LC

Plains Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis radix

20–30% · Possible
Gopher Snake
LC Endemic

Gopher Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Pituophis catenifer

40–50% · Likely
North American Racer
LC

North American Racer

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Coluber constrictor

30–40% · Possible
Plains Hognose Snake
LC

Plains Hognose Snake

Reptile

Heterodon nasicus

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Common Garter Snake at Badlands National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
70–80%
2 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
60–70%
3 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
50–60%
4 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
50–60%
5 Voyageurs National Park 🇺🇸 United States
50–60%
6 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
7 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
8 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
9 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
10 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
30–40%
11 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
20–30%
12 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
13 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
14 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
15 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
16 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
17 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
18 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
19 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
20 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
21 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
22 Elk Island National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
23 Riding Mountain National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
24 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
25 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
26 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
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