What's the difference?

My boys found one in the back yard yesterday. I caught it, let them touch it, let them hold it and then let it go in the flower bed on the side of our house.

It was either a garter snake or a ribbon snake, but I can't decide which one. It was nearly identical to this Eastern Ribbon Snake, but that one isn't supposed to be native to Texas.

Thoughts?

Oh yeah...I live in Round Rock.

ribbon snakes can be common in Texas

i had a couple of the snake you linked a picture to as a kid and always called it a garter snake. suckers bite too!

I meant to say that Eastern Ribbon Snakes aren't supposed to be native to Texas...not ribbon snakes in general. I just picked that one because that's exactly what it looked like.

Also, this one didn't make any attempt to bite anyone. My two year old even touched its tongue. All it wanted to do was get away.

there's no good reason why. same genus.

Could have been a checkered garter snake. They're pretty common in these parts.



Aside from letting loose of their bowels when handled, they're pretty cool little snakes.

Here's one I caught in Flour Bluff.

Nope...no "checkers" on this one. It did release quite a musty smell when we handled it, but I thought most snakes did that.

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suckers bite too!

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Yes they do!

Compared to ribbon snakes, garter snakes are stockier and have shorter tails.

Could be a western black-necked garter. But it was probably western ribbon snake. It's very common in your area and throughout most of Texas

Technically speaking all the ribbon snakes and garter snakes are in the same genus so as far as I am concerned they are all garter snakes. (its kinda like the toad is a frog but a frog isn't always a toad sorta thing). Generally speaking ribbon snakes are the slender snakes with the longitudinal stripes (around four sub-species in Texas showing some variation in stripe colors) with no checkered patterning and are found essentially state-wide and pretty dirt common when you are in their habitat. Hope that helps

[This message has been edited by taylorag06 (edited 4/13/2009 1:03p).]

Props to Hoss for not chopping it into pieces with a shovel in front of his kids, then taking pictures of it and posting it here.

I won't normally kill a snake unless it's venomous and near my house (though I did recently kill a large rattlesnake on a ranch near Brady simply because he presented an opportunity for me to test my new shotgun). My boys played with this one for a few minutes before I convinced them that we needed to let it go. My two year old..."Let's put it in the water!!"...referring to the dog's water bowl.

I think I'm going with the ribbon snake based on what everyone has said above.

[This message has been edited by Hoss (edited 4/13/2009 1:47p).]

+1 for not cutting its head off in front of the kids.

It was probably a common garter snake. They are pretty... well... common.

Maybe a Western ribbon snake?

(edit) Found this text with the following photo:

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The Western Ribbon Snake is common throughout Harris County, and is commonly seen around homes. It is dark in background color, and the lighter colored stripes are highly variable in color, ranging from yellows to tans and even blues. Most people call these 'Garden' or 'Grass' snakes but this is not the true name for this beneficial little serpent. Adults can be larger than you might think, and can reach up to 3.5 feet.

As with most snakes, Western Ribbon Snakes are completely harmless if encountered, and will readily slither off in the opposite direction if given the opportunity.

Western Ribbon Snakes can be found just about anywhere there is a cool dark moist bit of soil - like nicely mulched landscaping - which is where they are often encountered. This habitat is ideal for them to find a wide variety of suitably sized invertebrates - including snails and slugs - as well as a frog or toad when available. Another gardener's friend, you decide what's better - slugs or ribbon snakes!

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[This message has been edited by HuntingGMan (edited 4/13/2009 9:53p).]

My guess would be Texas Garter Snake. no pictures just use google image

In your area the ribbon snakes would most likely have a reddish to bright red stripe down the back.

Besides the basic gestalt, the best way to tell the difference between ribbons and garters is to look at the upper lips. Ribbon snakes upper lips are unmarked (see photo above) where as the garters have black markings between the scales (see checkered above)

There's not really a big difference in their behavior, although Ribbon Snakes are a bit more prone to musking, imo from working with them in the field.

At least its not water snake musk All musks are not created equal

No, they aren't.. I think hognose musks are the worst!

I always thought Lindy's musk to be there worst. Different then water snake or thamnophis musk, but for some reason it always gets me the most