Nature's Neighbors ~ Eastern Blacknecked Garter Snake

This beautiful snake is diurnal, or active during the day, but it is also very shy, so if you catch a glimpse of one, feel privileged.  In Texas, Thamnophis cyrtopsis ocellatus is restricted to the Edwards Plateau of the Hill Country, and for good reason. These snakes prefer fairly dry, rocky habitat near a steady water supply, which they are not very picky about.  Water from a sprinkler, pet water bowl or birdbath will suffice as a water supply, as long as it’s constant and they can drink a bit every few days. Habitat with limestone boulders and rock piles, are ideal places for this species. Besides Texas, they are also found in New Mexico, Arizona, and much of Mexico (except along the arid gulf coast lowlands).

Juvenile

 

 Blacknecks typically feed near a water source. This is because their preferred food is amphibians. Cliff chirping frogs, and gulf coast toads are their prey of choice. In non-drought years in the summer, there are many young toads in the leaf litter that probably provide plenty of nutritious food.  Slimy salamanders play some part in their diets as well as they have been documented feeding on slimy salamanders with apparent relish.  Last on the list of choice food items is fish. In a case where amphibians are not as abundant as normal, they will hunt small fish.

Predators include coral snakes, roadrunners, raccoons, opossums, foxes, ravens, crows, and  birds of prey.  Humans impact garter snake habitat by development and by the spillage or dumping of toxic chemicals. Development has not greatly impacted the eastern blackneck due to their preference of rocky hillsides and cliffs, and hopefully the populations in inaccessible areas will be unaffected by development for years to come, but chemical pollution is another story. Since the amphibian prey that this species rely on are often poisoned by human chemical dumps (i.e.: fertilizer and pesticide runoff, oil, gas, etc.), the garter population is doubtless affected as well, either directly by lack of prey, or indirectly, by absorbing toxins from eating them.

Adult

 This is a very beautiful and non-venomous species of snake that is just living it’s life and steering clear of humans, so you should leave them unmolested and enjoy them!