Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
The most common snake species around Montreal. About half to a meter long and not venomous.
Common Names
| 🇨🇦 | Common Garter Snake |
| 🇫🇷 | Couleuvre rayée |
| 🇩🇪 | Gewöhnliche Strumpfbandnatter |
| 🇲🇽 | Serpiente de jarretera, Culebra rayada |
Taxonomy
| Order | Serpentes |
| Family | Colubridae |
Characteristics
| Length | 50-100 cm |
| Weight | 57-170 g |
Explore More
🎧 Apple Podcast: About this species' biology, behavior and ecological importance.
Best Locations and Seasons for Sightings
I usually see this snake species on visits to parks in early mid April during the first warmer days. With no vegetation yet, the snake is easy to spot. Also, they seem to be hungry and will be more active.
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parc Angrignon | x | - | - | - |
| Parc Michel-Chartrand | x | - | - | - |
| Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies | x | - | - | - |
"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from my park visit journals.
Identification and Similar Species
The variant here in around Montreal is dark grey to dark greenish with yellow stripes. As there are not many different snakes, not difficult to identify. In other words, if you see a snake in a park around Montreal, most probably it is a Common Garter Snake.
Captured Moments
Videos are hosted on YouTube. Click on a thumbnail to watch it.
Exploring Recorded 2024-04-20 in Parc Michel-Chartrand
All content on this page — including photos, videos, and field audio recordings — was created by Karl-Heinz Müller, a Montréal-based wildlife filmmaker, sound recordist, and photographer. Founder of MUUUH and Québec Sauvage, he has spent over a decade documenting Canada’s natural habitats through immersive soundscapes and wildlife films. Learn more about Karl-Heinz
Last updated: 2025-05-03