A Snake May Be a Gardner's Best Friend

Welcome the Kings Park Focus on Nature! Each article will focus attention on some of the unique animals, plants, and natural places which are to be found in and around our town.

Now that temperatures are warming up outdoors, reptiles in our area are becoming active. While out hiking, or perhaps in your yard, you may be fortunate enough to see one of our cold - blooded neighbors - snakes!

Snakes are fascinating creatures. Kings Park residents are most likely to encounter the reptile known as the Eastern Garter Snake  – Thamnophis sirtalis. This inhabitant of fields, woodlands, and suburban backyards is sometimes incorrectly referred to as a “Garden snake”. It may indeed be often encountered in our yards and gardens. Though snakes have a bad reputation, a Garter Snake is no cause for alarm. In fact this cold - blooded creature is beneficial because one of its favorite foods is the gardener’s number one pest – slugs!

Additionally, Garter Snakes eat other invertebrates and insects, as well as frogs, salamanders, and  fish. Larger specimens will occasionally eat mice. Garter Snakes, which by the way are non venomous, are typically marked with three striking yellow stripes on a dark to black background. Some specimens have a more checkered pattern, with black markings on a tan background and dull yellow stripes. These snakes typically range from 18” in length, and occasionally reach up to 48”. Interestingly, Garter Snakes give birth to live young, unlike most reptiles which lay eggs.

Though you may not see the Garter Snake itself, you may discover its shed skin. Snakes will shed their entire skin as they grow, crawling out of it and leaving it as evidence of their residence in the area. These reptiles have no eyelids, but instead have a clear lens of skin over their eyes, and this lens is shed along with the rest of the old skin! While not dangerous to humans, Garter Snakes will release an unpleasant musky odor when handled, and may bite. Although they possess small teeth, they do not have fangs.

So when you come across one of these intriguing and harmless creatures sunning itself in your yard, or on the trail at one of our parks, don’t be afraid. Instead appreciate it’s beauty, and it’s unique role in our Kings Park environment.