March 22 – My Nature Journal

Eastern Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis

Eastern Garter Snakes are fairly common in my area during the summer. But unfortunately, that fact doesn’t make them very easy to spot in the wild.

Despite being fairly long (typical snakes grow to about two feet or 61cm) and striped in yellow, these snakes often remain unnoticed as they wait silently and patiently for a faint whiff of their frog prey.

This particular snake was coiled in deep vegetation. The dappled sunlight which shone through the leaves turned this snake’s alternating black and yellow stripes into fantastic camouflage.

I would never have spotted this snake on my own (and believe me, I’m always searching the undergrowth for snakes). Luckily, a very nice couple was walking their dog on this trail. The dog either saw or smelled the snake first. That drew the couple’s attention and, when they saw me approaching with my camera, very graciously pointed out the snake to me.

Different people have repeated this courtesy to me many times over the years and I remain truly grateful.

I doubt that couple even remembers pointing out this snake to me. The interaction likely looms larger in my memory than in theirs. But even though they will probably never see this post, I’ll take the opportunity to thank them anyway.

And I’ll think of them fondly every time I look at this Eastern Garter Snake.