This species occurs in southwestern Canada and northwestern United States. Its range includes southwestern British Columbia, western Washington, western Oregon, and extreme northwestern California, including various coastal islands, at elevations from sea level to around 1,680 m (5,500 feet) (Nussbaum et al. 1981, Brown et al. 1995, Rossman et al. 1996, Ernst and Ernst 2003, Stebbins 2003).

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: (200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)) The range includes southwestern British Columbia, western Washington, western Oregon, and extreme northwestern California, including various coastal islands, at elevations from sea level to around 1,680 meters (5,500 feet) (Nussbaum et al. 1981, Brown et al. 1995, Rossman et al. 1996, Ernst and Ernst 2003, Stebbins 2003).

Continent: North-America
Distribution: Canada (SW British Columbia),  USA (W Washington, W Oregon, NW California, Alaska ?)

Length: 66 cm

Syntype for Thamnophis ordinoides
Catalog Number: USNM 5274
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Amphibians & Reptiles
Sex/Stage: ; Juvenile
Preparation: Ethanol
Locality: Fort Townsend, Jefferson, Oregon, United States, North America

Syntype for Thamnophis ordinoides
Catalog Number: USNM 550123
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Amphibians & Reptiles
Sex/Stage: ; Juvenile
Preparation: Ethanol
Locality: Fort Townsend, Jefferson, Oregon, United States, North America

Syntype for Thamnophis ordinoides
Catalog Number: USNM 961
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Amphibians & Reptiles
Preparation: Ethanol
Year Collected: 1841
Locality: Puget Sound, Locality In Multiple Counties, Washington, United States, North America

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Terrestrial

Comments: This snake is primarily terrestrial but may be found near or occasionally in water; often it occurs in meadows, forest clearings, and along the edges of thickets (Nussbaum et al. 1983, Brown et al. 1995, Rossman et al. 1996, Ernst and Ernst 2003, Stebbins 2003). Hibernation sites include talus slopes or deep rock crevices.

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Comments: Feeds mainly on slugs as well as worms, salamanders and frogs.

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: > 300

Comments: This species is represented by a very large number of occurrences (subpopulations) (see dot map in Nussbaum et al. 1981).

100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Comments: Adult population size is unknown but certainly exceeds 100,000. This snake is common in many parts of its range.

Comments: Inactive in cold temperatures. Most active on sunny days.

Maximum longevity: 15.8 years (captivity)

Copulates usually in the spring, less commonly in the fall (Nussbaum et al. 1983). Viviparous. Parturition occurs in summer or early fall. Litter size generally less than 20.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Population

Population Trend

Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable (=10% change)

Comments: Extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of subpopulations, and population size probably are relatively stable.

Global Long Term Trend: Increase of 10-25% to decline of 30%

Major Threats

Comments: No major threats are known.

Conservation Actions

Global Protection: Very many (>40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed

Comments: Many occurrences are in protected areas.