[6] In New England, the snake is described as the "most widespread and ubiquitous" serpent, from wilderness to urban environments and from sea level to high elevations.

[2] The eastern garter snake will live in a variety of environments, with a preference for grassy or shrubby fields, including abandoned farmland, outbuildings and trash dumps.

Snakes are present in urban environments in habitats that include "city parks, cemeteries and suburban yards and gardens".

[2] Eastern garter snakes like to conceal themselves under logs, stones and other debris that allow them to bask in the sunlight and quickly seek refuge from predators.

Krulikowski notes that "old poultry farms with discarded sheet-metal incubation trays provide warm, moist hiding places.

"[2] The majority of the eastern garter snake's diet (~80%) consists of earthworms, though they have a secondary preference (~15%) for amphibian prey (esp.

[15] Its parent species, the common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), was last assessed by the IUCN in 2007 and determined to be of least-concern due its wide geographic distribution, (presumed) large population, and lack of significant threats to its survival.