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

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
40–50% · Possible
overall probability at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
371 Verified records at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ 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 →

40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Common Garter Snake sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 371 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Common Watersnake
LC Endemic

Common Watersnake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Nerodia sipedon

40–50% · Likely
Eastern Rat Snake
LC

Eastern Rat Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pantherophis alleghaniensis

40–50% · Likely
Ringneck Snake
LC Endemic

Ringneck Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Diadophis punctatus

20–30% · Possible
Eastern Worm Snake
LC Endemic

Eastern Worm Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Carphophis amoenus

10–20% · With luck
Black Kingsnake
LC Endemic

Black Kingsnake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lampropeltis nigra

10–20% · With luck
DeKay's Brownsnake
LC

DeKay's Brownsnake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Storeria dekayi

10–20% · With luck
Eastern Milksnake
LC

Eastern Milksnake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Lampropeltis triangulum

10–20% · With luck
North American Racer
LC

North American Racer

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Coluber constrictor

10–20% · With luck
Rough Green Snake
LC

Rough Green Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Opheodrys aestivus

10–20% · With luck
Queen Snake
LC

Queen Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Regina septemvittata

5–10% · With luck
Redbelly Snake
LC

Redbelly Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Storeria occipitomaculata

5–10% · With luck
Corn Snake
LC Endemic

Corn Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Pantherophis guttatus

5–10% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
10–20
Feb
40–50
Mar
40–50
Apr
40–50
May
40–50
Jun
30–40
Jul
40–50
Aug
30–40
Sep
40–50
Oct
20–30
Nov
10–20
Dec

☀️ 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

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Common Garter Snake in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Common Garter Snake sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 371 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Common Garter Snake in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for Common Garter Snake in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in our monthly data.

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