Common Garter Snake vs Western Ribbonsnake
Striped snake in the garden - garter or ribbon?
The quick tell
Ribbon snakes are the supermodel version of a garter: dramatically slimmer, with a tail that makes up about a third of their length and clean, crisp stripes with no checkerboard between them. Garters are stockier, shorter-tailed, and usually show dark checkering between their stripes.
Field marks, side by side
| Common Garter Snake | Western Ribbonsnake | |
|---|---|---|
| Build | Stocky; tail roughly a quarter of total length | Very slender; tail about a third of total length |
| Pattern | Checkerboard spots between the stripes | Clean stripes, no checkering |
| Face | Variable lip markings | Bright white spot in front of each eye, clean white lips |
| Habitat | Almost anywhere: gardens, fields, woods | Strongly tied to water edges and wet meadows |
Still not sure which one you found?
Point Huck at it. One photo identifies it on the spot - and adds it to your collection.
Get Huck - freeCommon questions
Are garter or ribbon snakes dangerous?
No. Both are harmless to people and quietly useful - they eat slugs, earthworms, amphibians, and small rodents. Neither has meaningful venom, and both would rather flee than bite.
Why is the snake by my pond so skinny?
A striped snake at the water’s edge that looks impossibly thin, with a very long tail and spotless stripes, is likely a ribbon snake. Garters near water are chunkier and usually show dark checks between their stripes.