They are an extremely wide ranging species, being found from sea level to high in the mountains. Many are aquatic or semi-aquatic but some are completely terrestrial. It is found throughout California except the deserts. There are over 20 species of garter snakes. Most species have conspicuous, pale yellow or orange vertebral stripe and a pale stripe low on each side.
Name is earned by resemblance to an old fashioned garter.
Some species are unstriped, or have only lateral stripes or a spotted or checkered pattern. Some are even melanistic. Local forms are sometimes incorrectly referred to as water snakes because of their occurrence near water. The fact they are often found in gardens accounts for their being called garden snakes in some areas. As with all Colubrids, garter snakes have only one lung.