Content including photographs are Copyright © 2009 - Don & Linda Gilmore
Both photos courtesy of Martin Feldner
Photo courtesy of Martin Feldner
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Page 1 Venomous Snakes
This is the Patchnose snake. Like the Coachwhip, they are very fast. However, unlike the coachwhip, patchnose are mild-mannered and reluctant to bite. I was lucky to get this close to him for the shot.
Length -- 10 to 17 inches long.
Here's a Coachwhip up in a tree eating a Dove's egg in her nest. The dove was watching and could do nothing. This snake already had one egg in him and was getting ready to have another -- breakfast anyone? He didn't like me watching.
We caught this Coachwhip snake trying to eat our buddy; a sidebloched lizard in our front yard. They sometimes hang around houses in the desert because prey is often attacted by water or plants associated with houses. We chased him away, gently. This snake is very fast and will defend itself if grabbed by repeatedly striking and trying to bite.
Length -- 42 to 66 inches long.
This is the Gopher snake. Gopher snakes will often strike at you if you get too close for their comfort. They also display behaviors of flattening their head to give it a more expanded look, sucking in air to make themselves look bigger, and expelling air in a way that makes a sound that emulates the sound of a rattlesnake. In the desert a lot of animals mimic others for different purposes. Notice the dark band across the head through the eyes.
Length -- 48 to 96 inches long.
This is a glossy snake. They are very docile and can be handled without fear of getting bit. If you do get bit remember, all wildlife (like people) have different temperaments, and any animal equipped with a mouth and teeth can bite. This was a young and very friendly one.
Length -- 30 to 50 inches long.
(Lichanura trivirgata roseofusca)
(Lampropeltis getula californiae)
This kingsnake is pretty typical of California kingsnakes seen in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts and part of the Sonoran Desert. These snakes are very hardy and can be found in the coastal scrub areas to the high deserts. They spend most of their days hiding in piles of brush or refuse or in abandoned rodent burrows, coming out at night to hunt.
This kingsnake is pretty typical of California kingsnakes seen in the desert areas in Southern Baja and some parts of Arizona. Adults reach full size in 3 to 4 years of age.
Length - over 4 ft. sometimes to 6 ft.
Southern Ca. coastal slopes across the ranges into the San Diego Deserts. Mostly nocturnal, feeds on small birds, rodents, lizards, and small snakes. Other colorations are found in Baja.
Length - 17 to 44 inches.
