Eastern Plains Garter Snake

Status: locally common

length: 20-28 inches

If you live in the southern part of Wisconsin you might catch a glimpse of the eastern plains garter snake. This medium-sized snake has yellow to yellow-orange stripes on its sides. The dark brown to olive back has two rows of alternating dark spots above and below the side stripes. Its belly is yellow to yellowish-green with black spots on the outer edge of the belly scales. All in all, it's a pretty colorful snake.

You're most likely to spot this snake in moist, open grassy areas in prairies and oak savannas and along rivers. It likes to eat frogs, earthworms, salamander larvae, tadpoles, fish and beetles.