Description and Identification
It is a small slender snake, averaging 38-51 cm (15-20 in.) long, with three yellow to orange stripes along the length of the body. The background color can range from olive-brown to black and it may also be possible to discern two rows of dark spots between the side and back stripes. These features do little to distinguish them from most other garter snakes species, but what is unique to this species is the placement of the lateral, or side, stripes. In Butler's garter snakes, the lateral stripes are centered on the third scale row up from the ventral scales, and they also overlap the adjacent second and fourth scale rows. This contrasts with the lateral stripe placement of other garter snake species.
For those hoping to avoid getting close enough to inspect the position of the lateral stripe, there are other features which may help in their identification. The head is unusually small for a garter snake, and, when excited, the effort this snake expends to escape seems to go more towards thrashing in place than to getting away.
Read more about this topic: Butler's Garter Snake
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