Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi

Valley garter snake (common garter snake)

Key ID features:

• Typically 3 dorsal stripes,
• Red blotches on sides of body above the lateral stripes.
• Red cheek blotch usually present.
• Good swimmers.
• COLOR: dorsal black body with yellow stripes, ventral body yellow or buff. 7 upper labial scales
• Almost always found near water
• One of few vertebrates that can prey successfully on rough-skinned newts- active toxin found in their livers after predation.
  

  Valley Garter Snake by John Sullivan