Snakes in California

Rattlesnakes

• The most common rattlesnake in California is the western rattlesnake, which lives throughout the state except in southern desert areas. The northern Mohave and western diamondbacks are large snakes with black and white rings around their tails. Speckled rattlesnakes live in rocky areas and their skin changes color to match their surroundings. Other rattlesnakes in California include the north Pacific, red diamond Great Basin, southwest speckled and Panamint rattlesnakes. All of the rattlesnakes in California are venomous.

Boas

• The rosy boa is a large, non-venomous brown or orange snake common in rocky canyons and shrubs in southern California. The northern and southern rubbers, found in northern and southern California, respectively, earned their name from their shiny, rubbery looking skin. They are harmless to humans but do feed on small mammals. Rubbers can live to be 50 years old. The northern three lined boas are rarely seen during daylight but are excellent climbers and feed on small rodents.

Ring Necks

• Ring necks are small snakes living throughout California, although they do not inhabit deserts or other significantly dry areas and rarely are seen during summer months. They have dark heads, gray or green bodies and bright yellow or orange bellies. They frequently hide under rocks, wood or other objects. The seven sub-species of ring neck snakes in California include the regal, San Diego, northwestern, Monterey, coral-bellied San Bernadino and Pacific ring necks.

Glossy

• Glossy snakes are large, slow snakes that live in desert habitats and prefer wide open spaces. Species include the desert, Mohave and California. They are most common in southern California. Glossy snakes are primarily nocturnal and feed on small desert lizards, iguanas or smaller snakes. They eat their prey constricting it or swallowing it whole. Glossy snakes lay their eggs in June or July and are harmless to humans.