The red-sided garter snake is black with yellow stripes and has red blotches along its side. Male snakes grow to be about 600 mm long. Females may grow to be 1000 mm long and are much thicker than the males. The garter snakes main food is frogs and toads, but they will eat worms, leeches and small fish, too. Garter snakes live in meadows, forests and marshes, but likes to stay close to water.

Garter snake enemies are animals such as crows, owls, foxes, and skunks. They hide from their enemies by crawling under leaves or thick grass. If they are near water the snake will dive in and hide on the bottom to avoid its enemies.

Garter snakes mate in spring and their young are born alive in August. Each female may give birth to as many as 60 young. The young snakes, which are about 150 mm long when they are born, leave their mother right away. They hunt for the same kinds of food as the adults, only smaller.

Garter snakes spend winter in holes or caves underground called dens. They must find a place deep enough so the ground won't freeze. Sometimes there may be many snakes, even thousands, all sharing a good den.

When spring comes they leave the snakes come out of their dens all at once. After they mate they leave to feed for the summer.