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Thamnophis ordinoides

(Baird and Girard, 1852)

Northwestern Gartersnake

G5Secure Found in 93 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.106394
Element CodeARADB36080
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyColubridae
GenusThamnophis
Other Common Names
Couleuvre du Nord-Ouest (FR) northwestern gartersnake (EN) Northwestern Garter Snake (EN)
Concept Reference
Rossman, D. A., N. B. Ford, and R. A. Seigel. 1996. The garter snakes: evolution and ecology. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. xx + 332 pp.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-02-02
Change Date2001-12-11
Edition Date2006-09-07
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Range Extent Comments
The range includes southwestern British Columbia, western Washington, western Oregon, and extreme northwestern California, including various coastal islands, at elevations from sea level to around 1,680 meters (5,500 feet) (Nussbaum et al. 1981, Brown et al. 1995, Rossman et al. 1996, Ernst and Ernst 2003, Stebbins 2003).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a very large number of occurrences (subpopulations) (see dot map in Nussbaum et al. 1981).
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats are known.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This snake is primarily terrestrial but may be found near or occasionally in water; often it occurs in meadows, forest clearings, and along the edges of thickets (Nussbaum et al. 1983, Brown et al. 1995, Rossman et al. 1996, Ernst and Ernst 2003, Stebbins 2003). Hibernation sites include talus slopes or deep rock crevices.

Reproduction

Copulates usually in the spring, less commonly in the fall (Nussbaum et al. 1983). Viviparous. Parturition occurs in summer or early fall. Litter size generally less than 20.
Terrestrial Habitats
Shrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousBare rock/talus/scree
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS5Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
OregonS5Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
WashingtonS5Yes
Roadless Areas (93)
California (12)
AreaForestAcres
Blue Creek Rare ISix Rivers National Forest12,134
KellySix Rivers National Forest5,195
Monkey CreekSix Rivers National Forest9,017
North Fork SmithSix Rivers National Forest37,898
Orleans Mtn. BSix Rivers National Forest17,183
PacksaddleSix Rivers National Forest3,862
RussianKlamath National Forest21,771
Ship MountainSix Rivers National Forest11,936
SiskiyouKlamath National Forest54,039
Siskiyou ASix Rivers National Forest1,017
Siskiyou BSix Rivers National Forest18,871
SnoozerKlamath National Forest23,414
Oregon (43)
AreaForestAcres
Badger CreekMt. Hood National Forest847
Bull Of The WoodsMt. Hood National Forest8,843
Bull Of The WoodsWillamette National Forest53
Bulldog RockUmpqua National Forest6,056
Bulldog RockWillamette National Forest559
Calf - Copeland CreekUmpqua National Forest15,696
Chucksney MountainWillamette National Forest15,369
Cougar BluffUmpqua National Forest5,574
Drift CreekSiuslaw National Forest6,333
EagleMt. Hood National Forest16,841
Echo MountainWillamette National Forest8,098
ElkhornWillamette National Forest9,380
FairviewUmpqua National Forest7,417
French Pete (b)Willamette National Forest1,186
Gold CreekWillamette National Forest1,364
Gordon MeadowsWillamette National Forest9,463
Hardesty MountainWillamette National Forest3,754
Hardesty MountainUmpqua National Forest2,597
Hebo 1aSiuslaw National Forest13,930
LakeMt. Hood National Forest1,327
LarchMt. Hood National Forest12,961
LastUmpqua National Forest7,666
Limpy RockUmpqua National Forest6,782
Mclennon MountainWillamette National Forest8,085
Menagerie (rooster Rock)Willamette National Forest374
Moose LakeWillamette National Forest5,013
Mt. Hood AdditionsMt. Hood National Forest13,061
North KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests91,560
OlallieMt. Hood National Forest7,607
Opal CreekWillamette National Forest5,417
Roaring RiverMt. Hood National Forest27,316
Salmon - HuckleberryMt. Hood National Forest17,570
Shasta CostaSiskiyou National Forests14,420
Smith UmpquaSiuslaw National Forest7,622
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
TahkenitchSiuslaw National Forest5,799
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
Twin LakesMt. Hood National Forest6,055
Umpqua SpitSiuslaw National Forest2,090
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
Williams CreekUmpqua National Forest5,844
Wind CreekMt. Hood National Forest5,438
WoahinkSiuslaw National Forest5,309
Washington (38)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekGifford Pinchot National Forest7,980
Big Lava BedGifford Pinchot National Forest19,043
Blue LakeGifford Pinchot National Forest11,359
Blue SlideWenatchee National Forest17,505
Boulder RiverMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest32,563
Dark DivideGifford Pinchot National Forest52,483
Eagle RockMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest34,064
Glacier Peak BMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest19,328
Glacier Peak JMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest26,482
Glacier Peak KMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest47,269
Glacier Peak LMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest14,084
Green MountainOlympic National Forest4,617
Higgins MountainMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest13,185
Jefferson RidgeOlympic National Forest6,512
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
LightningOlympic National Forest7,179
Madison CreekOlympic National Forest1,223
Mt. Baker MaMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest24,847
Mt. Baker Noisy - DiobsudMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest56,039
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
Mt. Baker WestMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest25,390
Mt. BaldyOlympic National Forest3,557
Mt. ZionOlympic National Forest3,544
Nason RidgeWenatchee National Forest19,329
Norse PeakWenatchee National Forest10,169
Packwood LakeGifford Pinchot National Forest1,084
QuartzWenatchee National Forest8,550
QuilceneOlympic National Forest18,656
Red MountainGifford Pinchot National Forest2,992
Rugged RidgeOlympic National Forest4,358
Silver StarGifford Pinchot National Forest7,779
SiouxonGifford Pinchot National Forest12,773
South QuinaultOlympic National Forest11,081
StrawberryGifford Pinchot National Forest5,244
TaneumWenatchee National Forest26,140
Thorp Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest22,717
TumwaterGifford Pinchot National Forest8,676
Upper SkokomishOlympic National Forest9,311
References (12)
  1. Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.
  2. Brown, H. A., R. B. Bury, D. M. Darda, L. V. Diller, C. R. Peterson, and R. M. Storm. 1995. Reptiles of Washington and Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society, Seattle, Washington. viii + 176 pp.
  3. Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 pp.
  4. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Sixth edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37:1-84. Online with updates at: http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php
  5. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2012. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 39:1-92.
  6. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  7. Kirk, J.J. 1979. <i>Thamnophis ordinoides</i>. Cat. Am. Amph. Rep. 233.1-233.2.
  8. Nussbaum, R.A., E.D. Brodie, Jr., and R.M. Storm. 1983. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Pacific Northwest. University Press of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho. 332 pp.
  9. Rossman, D. A., N. B. Ford, and R. A. Seigel. 1996. The garter snakes: evolution and ecology. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. xx + 332 pp.
  10. Stebbins, R. C. 1985a. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xiv + 336 pp.
  11. Stebbins, R. C. 2003. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
  12. Washington Herp Atlas. 2009 (map products updated March 2017). A cooperative effort of Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S.D.I. Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service. 250 pp.