Garter Snakes

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/eastern_garter_snake.htm

Genus: Thamnophis
Range: From Alaska to Canada all the way down to Central America

The garter snake is one of the most widely distributed genus of reptile in North America and they 

can be found in a variety of different habitats.  They are usually striped with a solid or checkered 

background. They often have subtle coloring and can blend in with their environment.  They grow 

to be only about 3 feet long and can live about 3-10 years in captivity. 

http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/blog/easterngartersnake.html

 When hunting garter snakes rely mainly on sensing ground vibrations. They are very agile snakes which makes catching their prey so much easier.  Since they are smaller they never constrict their prey. They either stun it or kill it with their toxic saliva.

Some common threats to the Garter Snake is water contamination, urban expansion, and residential/industrial development. An interesting fact that I found was that in California the San Francisco Garter Snake has been listed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service since 1967.