Identification help

Winning16 · 10-04-16, 09:49 AM

Hi All,
New guy here. I found this little guy in my back yard yesterday, can you help out with what kind it is? A few weeks ago I had a slightly larger than this (clearly) garter snake on my front porch and im thinking this is the same but it wasn't as clear as the other one I saw. I live in southern new jersey and i have wetlands on my property.

Of course my wife is deathly afraid of snakes so i need to prove to her that the ones we have around us are harmless and good for keeping out the small rodents, etc.

Thanks in advance!

**Minkness** · 10-04-16, 10:55 AM

Looks like a checkered garter to me! Perfectly harmless. =)

JellyBean · 10-04-16, 11:56 AM

It's all ok, wife!

It's a pretty baby

FWK · 10-04-16, 01:26 PM

Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis), harmless. These feed primarily on fish, amphibians, and soft bodied inverts, such as worms and slugs. Nice find.

Winning16 · 10-05-16, 10:42 AM

Thank you all again!