Illustration of garter snake
garter snake
noun
: any of a genus (Thamnophis) of harmless viviparous American snakes with longitudinal stripes on the back
Examples of garter snake in a Sentence
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Only a few thousand San Francisco garter snakes are estimated to remain in the wild.
—
Pepper St. Clair, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
While some species hang out solo, others, such as garter snakes, may gather in a communal area, called a hibernaculum.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2026
Populations that tend to aggregate in deep, well-insulated dens (like the famous mass overwintering dens of red-sided garter snakes in Manitoba, for instance) reduce exposure to freezing events.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
In the last century, the giant garter snake’s population has declined by more than 90%, the governor’s announcement declared.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 13 Oct. 2025
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Pepper St. Clair, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
While some species hang out solo, others, such as garter snakes, may gather in a communal area, called a hibernaculum.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2026
Populations that tend to aggregate in deep, well-insulated dens (like the famous mass overwintering dens of red-sided garter snakes in Manitoba, for instance) reduce exposure to freezing events.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
In the last century, the giant garter snake’s population has declined by more than 90%, the governor’s announcement declared.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for garter snake
Cite this Entry
“Garter snake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/garter%20snake. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
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