California
Garter Snake Species Found in California
- Santa Cruz Garter Snake Thamnophis atratus
- Sierra Garter Snake Thamnophis couchii
- Western Terrestrial Garter Snake Thamnophis elegans
- Giant Garter Snake Thamnophis gigas
- Two-striped Garter Snake Thamnophis hammondii
- Checkered Garter Snake Thamnophis marcianus
- Northwestern Garter Snake Thamnophis ordinoides
- Common Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis
Legal Status in California
The Giant Garter Snake is listed as threatened and the San Francisco Garter Snake is listed as endangered on both the state and federal endangered species lists. Neither they nor the Two-striped Garter Snake may be collected without a permit. Individuals with a sport fishing licence may collect or keep up to two of the remaining garter snake species. Common Garter Snakes of any subspecies may not be collected in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego or Ventura counties.
The keeping of native and exotic wildlife may be subject to local by-laws and ordinances, as well as other laws at the state or federal level not mentioned here. This page is not a definitive source. Please consult the authorities in your area.
For more information on the legal status of reptiles and amphibians in the United States, please consult State of the Union: Legal Authority Over the Use of Native Amphibians and Reptiles in the United States, available as a free download (PDF; direct link).
Articles and News
- Giant Garter Receives 140 Acres in Mitigation
- New Plan to Protect Giant Garter
- San Francisco Fined $386K for Killing Garter Snakes
- Golfers and Garter Snakes to Share Sharp Park
- SF Garter Featured on Freeway Pillar Mural
- Merced to Create Giant Garter Snake Habitat, Snakes Hopefully Will Arrive Later
- A New Plan for Sharp Park Golf Course and the San Francisco Garter
- Giant Garter Snake Population Rediscovered
- Golf Course Targeted for Garter Snake Habitat Restoration
- Fate of San Francisco Garter Snake Depends on Frog
- Mori Point Environmental Assessment Released
- San Francisco Garter Snakes Return to SF Zoo
- Sacramento Airport Buys 300 Acres of Giant Garter Habitat
- San Francisco Garter Focus of Mori Point Open House