Description: T. butleri is a small, slender snake, averaging 15 to 20 inches in total length (including tail), with three yellow to orange stripes along the length of its body. The background color can range from olive-brown to black, and it may also be possible to discern two rows of dark spots between the side and back stripes. These features do little to distinguish it from most other garter snakes species, but the placement of the lateral, or side, stripes is unique to this species. In Butler's garter snake the lateral stripes are centered on the third scale row up from the ventral scales, and they also overlap the adjacent second and fourth scale rows. This contrasts with the lateral stripe placement of other garter snake species.

Habitat: Habitat consists of open moist grassy/sedgy situations: meadows, pastures, marsh edges, margins of lakes and streams in open country, vacant lots, old dumps, railroad embankments, and roadsides, including such areas in cities; also seasonally dry uplands; shelters include logs, rocks, debris on the ground, old house foundations, burrows, ant mounds, and similar sites.

Range: T. butleri is found in northwestern Ohio, northeastern Indiana, the eastern portion of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, and the adjacent extreme southern tip of Ontario, Canada. Also, a disjunct population is found in southeastern Wisconsin.

Found in these States: IN | MI | OH | WI

Diet: Butler's garter snakes eat mostly earthworms. They will also eat leeches, small frogs, and salamanders.

Reproduction: Butler's garter snakes breed each year as they emerge from winter hibernation sites. Rising air temperatures prompt males to begin courting females. Female Butler's garter snakes are capable of storing sperm from previous matings (perhaps occurring in the fall) and using that sperm in the spring.

Butler's garter snakes are ovoviviparous. Eggs are fertilized within the female's body and develop and hatch within her.

Butler's garter snakes mate at their hibernation sites in the spring, before they leave for their summer feeding areas. Females give birth in mid to late summer to from 4 to 20 live young. Larger females and those that are better nourished produce more young per litter. The young snakes grow rapidly and may become mature in their second or third spring. They continue to grow throughout their lives.

Female Butler's garter snakes nurture their young inside their bodies until they are born. Once the young are born there is no further parental care.

Status: In Indiana, Butler's garter snake is listed as an endangered species. In Ontario, the species is also listed as endangered.

Taxonomy: