Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans) consuming a Western Meadow Vole (Microtus drummondii) in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico

Authors

Joseph W. Paysen, University of Nebraska at KearneyFollow
Peggy M. Huss, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Jacob C. Cooper, University of Nebraska at KearneyFollow
Lance J. Bernal, Turner Institute of Ecoagriculture, Raton, NM
Carter Kruse, Turner Institute of Ecoagriculture, Bozeman, MT
Keith Geluso, University of Nebraska at KearneyFollow

Date of this Version

12-30-2025

Document Type

Article

Comments

Copyright ©2025 by the authors

Abstract

The Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans) is a dietary generalist occurring in the western half of the United States, southwestern Canada, and northern Mexico. Terrestrial Gartersnakes are known to consume a variety of small mammals, including voles (Microtus). Herein we report on an observation of the Terrestrial Gartersnake consuming a Western Meadow Vole (Microtus drummondii). On 27 June 2025, we captured a large adult Terrestrial Gartersnake underneath a log just upstream of a North American Beaver (Castor canadensis) dam on the Vermejo River, Colfax County, New Mexico that regurgitated a partially digested adult Western Meadow Vole. Trapping in the immediate vicinity earlier that morning and elsewhere in the same watershed indicated high populations of Western Meadow Voles. Our observation of a large adult Terrestrial Gartersnake consuming an adult Western Meadow Vole likely reflects an ontogenetic diet shift toward mammals, particularly voles, observed in other studies for adult snakes of this species.

doi:10.32873/unl.dc.tnas.45.8