Overview
General Information

Dorsal background coloration (the basic color on the snake's back) varies from brownish to olive with a checkered pattern of black spots, separated by a yellow dorsal stripe and two light colored lateral stripes. Background coloration and prominence of a black checkered pattern and the three light stripes are geographically and individually variable. The ventral surface (the snake's underside) is cream to olive or brown and sometimes infused with orange, especially in northern populations.

Current Listing Status:
Date Listed:1993-10-20 00:00:00.0
Lead Region: California/Nevada Region (Region 8)

States/US Territories in which the Giant garter snake is known to occur:  California

USFWS Refuges in which the Giant garter snake is known to occur:  COLUSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, DELEVAN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, MERCED NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SACRAMENTO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SACRAMENTO RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SAN LUIS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, STONE LAKES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SUTTER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

For more information, please see: 

Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents

Date Citation Page Title

View All Federal Register Documents
02/14/2007 72 FR 7064 7084 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
11/03/2005 70 FR 66842 66844 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of Comment Period for the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain 5-Year Reviews.
09/02/2005 70 FR 52434 52436 Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report and Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit for the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan, Contra Costa County, CA
07/07/2005 70 FR 39327 39329 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain
03/07/2005 70 FR 11022 11024 Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for Issuance of an Incidental Take Permit Associated with a Habitat Conservation Plan for Western Placer County, CA

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Recovery Summary

Current Recovery Plan(s)
Plan Date Title Plan Status
07/02/1999 Draft Recovery Plan for the Giant Garter Snake (Thamnophis gigas) Draft

Other Recovery Documents
Doc Date Citation Page Title Document Type
02/14/2007 72 FR 7064 7084 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
  • Notice 5-year Review, Completion
    • 11/03/2005 70 FR 66842 66844 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of Comment Period for the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain 5-Year Reviews.
  • Notice 5-year Review
  • Notice Comment Period Extension
    • 07/07/2005 70 FR 39327 39329 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    09/26/2006 Giant Garter Snake 5-Year Review

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    Critical Habitat


    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Giant garter snake.

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    Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP):
    HCP Plan Summaries HCP Plan Documents
    Cal. Dept. of Fish & Game Striped Bass Conservation Plan N/A
    East Contra Costa County HCP/NCCP N/A
    Kern Water Bank N/A
    Maxwell Irrigation District N/A
    Natomas Basin Revised HCP and Litigation Resolution - City of Sacramento, Sutter County, and Natomas Basin Conservancy N/A
    Natomas Basin, Metro Air Park N/A
    San Joaquin County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation and Open Space Plan N/A

    Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA):
    SHA Plan Summaries SHA Plan Documents
    Yolo County Audubon N/A

    Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA):

    No Candidate Conservation Agreements exist for the Giant garter snake.

    Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAA):

    No Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances exist for the Giant garter snake.

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    Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings

    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    03/22/1991 56 FR 12146 12148 ETWP; 90-Day Findings and Commencement of Status Reviews for Seven Petitions to List Five Species as Threatened or Endangered; 56 FR 12146 12148
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial


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    Life History


    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.


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    Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
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