Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
	This is by far the most commonly seen snake in Essex County.  They are very adaptable and can easily be found in grasslands, forest, ditches,  landscaped gardens or any other piece of habitat it can find.  They eat earthworms, frogs, slugs and other small animals.  If grabbed they will usually smear a foul smelling substance and feces all over themselves and the capturer and may bite but it is completely harmless.   They are quite variable in their colour and pattern but are rarely as richly coloured as T. butleri (an unusually colourful example is pictured below as well as an average coloured one, both from the same area) and they always have a proportionately larger head.
		Photo taken in Windsor
		Photo taken in Windsor
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