Let’s talk about parks: eastern garter snakes

The “Let’s Talk About Parks” series is designed to encourage exploration and discovery of Pittsburgh’s urban parks.

One of the most common snakes found in Pittsburgh’s parks is the eastern garter snake.

At times mistakenly called a “gardener snake,” the eastern garter typically has one stripe running down the middle of its back, known as the vertebral stripe, and one stripe down each side, known as the lateral stripes. These stripes may vary from white to yellow, tan or gray, and the snake’s skin coloration can range from shades of olive green to brown. Some eastern garters may also have two rows of black or red spots between their stripes. Read Full Article