Ribbon snakes are a type of garter snake that live in wet or leafy habitats across the eastern United States. Since there are more than 35 different species of garter snake, ribbon snakes might not stand out at first, but there are a few key differences between them and other garter snakes. 

Ribbon snakes are small, with brown coloring and yellow stripes running down their sides. They are harmless to humans and eat fish, frogs, and toads. Ribbon snakes live in wetland areas on the east coast of the United States, although some prefer to live in forested or rocky habitats. 

I’ve put together some of the most commonly asked questions about ribbon snakes below, with answers about their physical and behavioral characteristics. If you’re curious about these reptiles after seeing one in the wild, at a zoo, or even at someone’s home, this is the list for you. 

Are Ribbon Snakes Poisonous?

If you encounter a ribbon snake at close quarters, don’t be alarmed.

Ribbon snakes are not poisonous. On the contrary, they are timid and will try to be very still and blend in if they feel threatened. Ribbon snake bites are pretty rare and usually happen by accident. It might hurt a little bit if one bit you, but absolutely nothing else will happen. 

Still, unless you’re 150% sure that the snake that just bit you is a ribbon snake, you should head to the nearest hospital anyway. It’s better to see a doctor and be fine than not see a doctor and unknowingly have copperhead venom running through your veins. 

If you’re interested in searching for wild snakes, you should know what venomous snakes live in your area.

That way, you will understand how to act and assess the risk of approaching and interacting with snakes. Some of the most common venomous snakes on the east coast are: 

• Cottonmouths. These snakes have triangular heads thicker than their bodies and look similar to northern water snakes. 
• Timber Rattlesnakes. These snakes have a broad head and bands of patterned color. They also have the unique rattle at the end of their bodies from which they take their names.
• Copperheads. These snakes are copper colored with sideways hourglass-like patterns on parts of their bodies.

Types of Ribbon Snakes

There are various types of ribbon snakes in different areas in the eastern United States. Let’s take a look at some of them now. 

Eastern Ribbon Snakes

Eastern ribbon snakes live in low, wetland habitats east of the Mississippi river. They are found between Florida and Ontario and are quite commonly seen.

Eastern river snakes are brown with a triple-stripe pattern that can be yellow or light brown to pale green or blue and every color in between. 

Are Eastern Ribbon Snakes Poisonous?

Eastern ribbon snakes are not poisonous. In fact, none of the four different subspecies of ribbon snakes are venomous. They’re also all very slender, mid-sized snakes that look like garter snakes. 

Northern Ribbon Snakes

Northern ribbon snakes are found in the same habitats as eastern ribbon snakes but live between Maine, Ontario, and Indiana.

They are generally darker than eastern ribbon snakes; some even look black. They also have three stripes running along their bodies, which are also usually darker than eastern ribbon snakes’ stripes. 

Southern Ribbon Snakes

Southern ribbon snakes are found south primarily in South Carolina. They tend to live in swampy, wetland habitats.

Like their northern cousins, they are also darker than eastern ribbon snakes. However, unlike the northern and eastern ribbon snakes, they have only two lines running along either side of their body. 

Bluestripe Ribbon Snakes

Bluestripe ribbon snakes only live along the Gulf coast of Florida. They are semi-aquatic and live in the following habitats:

• Rivers
• Streams
• Marshy areas 
• Wetland habitats

These snakes have a dark, almost black body, with two blue stripes running along either side. 

What Do Ribbon Snakes Eat?

In the wild, ribbon snakes eat only cold-blooded prey, including fish, frogs, and toads. They are diurnal hunters who are most active at sunrise and sunset. Between those two times, they generally rest alongside their hunting grounds. 

Most ribbon snakes are semi-aquatic and are comfortable swimming. They will usually slither into the nearest body of water if they feel threatened.

When held in captivity, ribbon snakes often have to change their diets. Reptile experts and hobbyists generally advise against using frogs and toads as feeders and instead opt to feed their ribbon snakes fish. Ribbon snakes can also learn to accept feeder mice, although some never do. 

How To Catch a Ribbon Snake?

Before catching any snake, you’ll need a few supplies. 

You will also need a pillowcase; when you’ve caught the snake, it will go in the pillowcase. It won’t be able to escape, and the pillowcase will allow the snake to breathe. If you want, you can also bring gardening gloves. 

Furthermore, never go snake-hunting alone. Whether you’re trying to remove a snake from your property or going into the wild to look for snakes in their natural habitat, it’s important to have a buddy. 

Approach the snake slowly and calmly, then grab it by its tail. Don’t grab too hard; you don’t want to hurt it.

When you grab the snake by its tail, it might try to bite you, so hold it far away from your body and keep your eyes on it.

When the snake stops writhing around, grab it just underneath its head. Then you’ll have total control over it and can keep it from biting. 

Here is a video on how to safely catch a non-venomous snake:

How Big Do Ribbon Snakes Get?

Ribbon snakes can grow to be almost three feet (one meter) long, although most vary between 16 in (41 cm) to 35 in (89 cm). Ribbon snakes have long tails, which can take up a third of their total body length. The longest ribbon snake ever found was 41 in (109 cm) long.

Even though they can be very long, ribbon snakes are very slim. Their heads are not much wider than their bodies, limiting the size of the food they can eat. Generally speaking, female ribbon snakes are slightly thicker than male ribbon snakes.

How Long Do Ribbon Snakes Live?

Ribbon snakes can live for up to 11 years in the wild and in captivity. They are not fully grown until they reach sexual maturity at around three years of age. Sexually mature ribbon snakes will mate twice a year and give birth to up to 20 live young. 

Since ribbon snakes are not very aggressive, mammals, other snakes, birds, and large amphibians prey on them. Most ribbon snakes in the wild do not live their whole potential lifespan, as their docile nature makes them ideal prey for larger animals.