Butler's Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri) - Ohio Herp Atlas

Butler's Gartersnake Thamnophis butleri

This is chiefly an inhabitant of flat, open fields. Although its range covers most of glaciated Ohio, the Butler’s Gartersnake occurs only in isolated colonies. A lateral stripe covers the third row of scales as well as the adjacent halves of rows two and four. Unlike the more general diet of the Eastern Gartersnake, Butler’s Gartersnakes feed predominantly on earthworms and leeches. The noticeably smaller head of the Butler’s Gartersnake is probably a result of this specialization. This snake was named for Amos Butler, an early Indiana naturalist. LENGTH: 16”–20”

Text courtesy of the Ohio Division of Wildlife: https://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/portals/wildlife/pdfs/publications/id%20guides/pub354_Reptiles-opt.pdf

Distribution Map
Distribution of the Butler's Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri)
Photographs
Butler's Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri)