Click on a picture for a larger view. Check the following pictures first if you are trying to identify a snake you have found in California. I have received many emails asking me to identify all of species of snakes shown below, so these are either the snakes most commonly encountered in California, or those that are the most difficult to identify for the novice.
Always keep in mind that most snakes vary in appearance, and a snake can look much different in motion than it does in still photos where it is often coiled up unnaturally to fit in the picture better. Don't only consider the color of a snake - it can be lighter or darker than seen in these or in other pictures, and the pattern can also vary. If you do not find your snake here, try going back to the Snake Identification page. Feel free to email a picture to me along with information about where you saw it city and county and what it was doing.
Gophersnake This is the snake I am most often asked to identify. It is very common in most of the state. Not Dangerous to Humans. This harmless snake is common throughout California, and is active during the day.
Often found in yards and gardens. Coachwhip Racer Common in the desert and southern California coastal region. Sometimes enters suburban yards. This harmless snake is common in southern California and less common in the San Joaquin Valley and foothills, and is active during the day.
Color can be brown, tan, black, or brick red. Sharp-tailed Snake Many people find these tiny snakes on their property in Northern California and in the Sierra Nevada foothills, often while digging in leaf litter or under rocks or other surface objects.
This harmless and secretive snake is common along most of the north and central coast and in the Sierra Nevada foothills. When threatened, the snake will flatten its body and shake its tail.
While it has no rattle, a rattling sound can be heard in dry grasses, leading observers to believe it to be a rattlesnake. The gopher snake is nonvenomous and not harmful to humans. Another common northern California snake is the coachwhip. Long and thin, with large eyes, the coachwhip comes in a variety of colors and patterns. Most coachwhips have some red coloring on their bodies. This snake as a species is very fast and will flee rather than fight when discovered.
The coachwhip is a curious snake, and has been known to lift its head above grasses or shrubs to peer around the landscape. While the bite of the coachwhip is painful, it's harmless, and the snake will only bite if improperly handled. Although the sharply pointed barb at the end of the sharp-tailed snake's tail looks deadly, it's actually merely a protruding remnant of the snake's tail vertebra and is not toxic and cannot hurt humans. Also known as the Red Diamond Rattlesnake, Crotalus Ruber is found generally between the altitudes of 0 and 5, feet, throughout southwestern California from the Morongo Valley west to the coast and south along the peninsular ranges to mid Baja California.
This snake has some of the least potent venom among rattlesnakes but produces large amounts, so should still treated as very dangerous. Crotalus ruber is considered a medium-large species, and commonly exceeds three feet, with large males sometimes exceeding five feet. They are generally pink, red-tan, red-brown, or brick red, and have diamond-shaped blotches with light edges along the back.
Their pattern is similar to that of Crotalus Atrox, but is distinguished by its color, to which its Latin name, 'ruber' refers. If you find yourself next to a rattlesnake, try to go around it. These snakes will go out of their way to avoid human contact, but will strike if you get close enough to threaten it. If this isn't possible, try stomping your feet, as in lieu of good eyesight, snakes are perceptive of sounds and vibrations and may be scared in the other direction.
It's also a great idea to carry a walking stick, that way if you discover a snake close to you, you may be able to flick it away with the stick. It's generally not recommended to kill these snakes unless absolutely necessary, as they are an important part of the local ecosystem and control the populations of various vermin. Johnson Outdoors Family. November 26, Crotalus oreganus Crotalus oreganus often called the Western Rattlesnake is the most common venomous snake in California, and is comprised of three subspecies: Crotalus oreganus helleri, Crotalus oreganus lutosus, and Crotalus oreganus oreganus.
Crotalus atrox Also know as the Western Diamondback, this snake is found in the southeast corner of the state between the altitudes of , feet, primarily in Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernadino counties, and is widely considered the most dangerous in California because of its large size and aggressive demeanor. Crotalus mitchelli This species is divided into two subspecies: Crotalus mitchelli stephensi, and Crotalus mitchelli pyrrhus, more commonly known as the Panamint Rattlesnake and Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake.
Crotalus cerastes Also know as a Sidewinder in reference to its unusual method of throwing raised loops of its body to the side, propelling itself forward in an 'S' shape, the Crotalus cerastes is divided into two subspecies: the Crotalus cerastes cerastes a. Crotalus scutulatus The Crotalus scutalalus, or Mojave Rattlesnake can be found between the altitudes of 0 and 8, feet, and are generally located in Southeastern California from the Colorado river near the San Bernardino county line, west through the Mojave, and north and east of the Sierras into Inyo County.
Crotalus ruber Also known as the Red Diamond Rattlesnake, Crotalus Ruber is found generally between the altitudes of 0 and 5, feet, throughout southwestern California from the Morongo Valley west to the coast and south along the peninsular ranges to mid Baja California. Tagged Camping Tips. Related Articles. Top Cold Weather Camping Tips. Finding Your Secret Wilderness Hideaway. Guide to Beach Backpacking. National Parks Overcrowded? Need Help?
0コメント