Feature Species: Western Garter Snake
• gives birth to live young
• is rarely found far from water where it both hunts and hides if disturbed
• eats a large variety of food, including worms, frogs, mice, fish, snails and birds
The second most widely distributed snake in Canada, the western garter snake lives in the southern parts of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, ranging south to New Mexico and California. In the fall, this communal hibernator begins to look for a winter den, or hibernaculum — a difficult task because of increasing losses to its habitat.
To learn more about snakes, read the western garter snake fact sheet or get your own snake poster from CWF.
