I found this Garter Snake this past September along the Rio Penasco in Otero County,New Mexico. We were about 2 miles east of Bluff Springs in Penasco Canyon at approximately 6000 ft in elevation. It looks like a Mexican Garter Snake (Thamnophis eques) , but I would like some more input on the identification.

 

Thanks

Bill Lupardus

 

Not that I'm any great snake expert mind you but based on what I've found I think it actually may be a New Mexico Garter Snake, (Thamnophis sirtalis dorsalis). Everything I've looked at shows the Mexican to be further west. There's also a good probability it's a Checkered Garter Snake, (Thamnophis marcianus).