Eastern Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis saurita · Colubridae
Also called: Ribbon Garter
A slender, harmless relative of the garter snake with crisp stripes and a notably long tail. Common around water but completely harmless.
What the Eastern Ribbon Snake looks like
How to identify it
- 1Very slender body with three bright yellow stripes
- 2Unmarked, clean background between stripes
- 3Long tail (about a third of total length)
- 4White spot in front of the eye
Snakes it's confused with
Thicker-bodied with a checkered pattern between stripes.
Behavior & danger to humans
Shy and fast; flees to water rather than biting.
✓ Good news: Completely harmless to people.
Related snakes
Non-venomousCorn Snake
Pantherophis guttatus
A harmless, beneficial constrictor and one of the most popular pet snakes in the world. Frequently mistaken for the venomous copperhead.
Non-venomousEastern Ratsnake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
A large, harmless constrictor and one of the best natural rodent controllers around homes and farms. Juveniles are gray and blotched, leading to copperhead confusion.
Non-venomousNorthern Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon
A harmless aquatic snake constantly killed out of fear that it is a cottonmouth. It bites readily when grabbed but has no venom.
Non-venomousScarlet Kingsnake
Lampropeltis elapsoides
A harmless coral snake mimic. Its red bands touch black bands — 'red touches black, friend of Jack' — separating it from the venomous coral snake.