Garter snakes are common reptiles found across diverse landscapes in North and Central America, from central Canada down to Costa Rica. These adaptable snakes are highly variable in appearance, often featuring distinctive longitudinal stripes along their bodies. While frequently encountered on the ground in gardens, meadows, and forests, their ability to navigate vertical spaces often sparks curiosity.
Garter Snake Climbing Abilities
Garter snakes can climb, though they are not as proficient as snake species that spend most of their lives in trees. Their muscular bodies and flexible structure support this ability. The keeled scales on their bellies provide traction on various surfaces.
These snakes primarily use concertina locomotion to ascend. This technique involves extending the front part of their body forward, anchoring it, then pulling the rest of their body up by bunching it into S-shaped curves. They grip textures and grooves with their scales to work their way upwards. While they can support their entire body weight during climbs, garter snakes struggle with smooth vertical surfaces. Rough textures like brick or wood siding offer them better purchase, and younger, smaller garter snakes tend to be more adept climbers than larger adults.
Motivations for Climbing
Garter snakes climb for various reasons. They are opportunistic predators and ascend to access food sources, such as bird nests or insects found in elevated positions.
Climbing also serves as a defensive strategy against predators like crows, hawks, raccoons, and larger snakes. When threatened, a garter snake may quickly climb a low tree or shrub to escape danger on the ground. They also utilize elevated spots for thermoregulation, basking in sunlight to warm their bodies, particularly when ground temperatures are cooler, such as after rain. Climbing can also help them avoid hazards on the ground, such as floods or small fires, by moving to higher, safer locations.
Environments Where Garter Snakes Climb
Garter snakes climb a variety of natural and man-made structures. They commonly ascend shrubs, small trees, and fences. Rock piles and walls, especially those with rough textures like brick or wood siding, provide suitable climbing surfaces.
Despite their climbing ability, garter snakes are not primarily arboreal and prefer lower, more stable surfaces. They can exploit gaps, ledges, or follow pipes, vegetation, and cables. In some instances, they have been observed climbing under the siding of buildings.