It may be our imagination, but it seems that we’ve been seeing fewer snakes this summer, including Common Garter Snakes such as the one shown here. That snake is the most widespread and abundant reptile in Maine. (Turtles and Snakes are the only reptiles that we have.)
Maine is home to nine species of snakes and – to the tourists’ delight – none of these is venomous. (In days of yore, we had Timber Rattlesnakes.) Garter Snakes were named after “garter straps,” elastic devices once used to hold up socks and stockings.
Adult Garter Snakes usually range in size here from 18 to 26 inches, but one Maine specimen was officially recorded at almost 44 inches. Garter Snakes prefer earthworms but will eat just about any living thing that they can get their small mouths around. The compliment is reciprocated by a myriad of larger predators that like to snack on this snake.(Brooklin, Maine)