Some people love snakes, as they eat many garden pests, while others hate them and get startled or frightened when encountering them in nature. Well, I’m sorry if you’re a slither shunner (though I understand completely), because this month’s critter column will focus not only on a snake, but on the snake we most frequently see: the garter snake.

Garter snakes are among the most common and fascinating of reptiles. These slender serpents are easily recognizable by their narrow bodies and distinct stripes that run the length of their backs. The stripes are usually yellow, green, or blue, set against a darker background, often brown or black, making them blend in and very hard to see. Their sudden appearance is quite the scream-worthy moment for an unexpecting ophidiophobic.

Garter snakes are the opportunists of the reptile world. They aren’t picky eaters and will consume various prey, depending on what’s available. Their diet typically includes small amphibians like frogs, toads and earthworms, slugs, and even small fish. Occasionally, they’ll indulge in a meal of small rodents or insects. These snakes use their amazing sense of smell and quick reflexes to catch their meals, often swallowing prey whole.

These critters thrive in a variety of Catskill habitats. They live in meadows, forests, wetlands and even in your backyard garden (again, my apologies to the snake skedaddlers). They are particularly fond of moist environments, as these areas are rich in the type of food they eat.

Speaking of eating, garter snakes have their share of natural predators to watch out for. Birds of prey, like hawks, are their most common enemies, swooping down from above to snatch them. Other predators include raccoons, foxes, and larger snakes. But these snakes employ many tricks to avoid a rather harsh ending, such as releasing a stinky musk to deter their attackers or even playing dead.

Unlike most snakes, garter snakes actually give birth to live young rather than by laying eggs. When this occurs, a female snake can birth anywhere from 10 to 40 baby snakes (more terrible news for the serpent skeptics). These tiny reptiles are independent from the moment they’re born, quickly slithering away to start their lives in the wild.