California King Snake

ORDER: Squamata
FAMILY:Colubridae
GENUS: Lampropeltis
SPECIES: getulus californiae

I. DESCRIPTION:

Skin has various patterns (bands, stripes, speckles) and colors (black and white, brown and yellow, etc). Adults are usually 3 feet long, rarely as long as 4 feet.

II. GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE AND HABITAT:

Western U.S. from Baha California, north to Oregon and Southern Utah and east to western Arizona. Lives in rock outcrops, semi-desert, brushy hillsides, or pine forests.

III. DIET:

Mice, lizards, birds, other snakes. Crepuscular, but nocturnal during hot, summer months.

IV. LIFE CYCLE/SOCIAL STRUCTURE:

Oviparous. Lays around two dozen eggs in rotted logs, etc. Young hatch in two months and are about a foot long.

V. SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS:

King snakes are wholly or partially immune to the venom of rattlesnakes and will kill and eat them. This behavior gives them a good reputation with humans in rural areas.

VI. STATUS IN WILD:

Not considered endangered.