California is one of the largest states in America and the world. It has many ecosystems, great weather, a sunny climate, and a large area.
All these attributes of California naturally make it one of the best places for wide life.
In the state of California, there is a wide range of life; some are harmless, while others are a little more dangerous.
One of the wildlife animals that California houses are different types of snakes. Some snakes found in California are dangerous, while the rest are harmless.
According to research, there are over a hundred different snakes in California.
For the sake of this article, we have combined a list of some of the different snakes you may encounter in California.
We also divided the list into 2 groups: the common (less venomous) and the venomous snakes, to facilitate understanding.
1. Gopher Snake
First on our list of California snakes is the gopher snake, which can grow very large.
Because of their size, one may think they are venomous; however, they are as harmless as they come.
The average adult gopher can grow to about 7 feet long with an average of 2-9 feet; however, they are not venomous.
Wildlife keepers have discovered that this snake is less interested in humans and more interested in other smaller animals. Its average lifespan is 10-15 years.
The gopher snakes have brown, yellow, or green colors on their skin, with numerous black spots on them.
Because of their size and length, it is easy for one to mistake them for rattlesnakes.
They appear as dangerous as they tend to shake their tails at predators as a rattlesnake would react.
However, it is quite easy to distinguish between a rattlesnake and a gopher. While rattlesnakes behave reclusively, a gopher snake is more open and free-spirited.
A gopher snake may approach you in short, tight movements. Although this may make you believe you are in danger, the opposite is true.
On the other hand, rattlesnakes rarely approach humans independently; when they do, they hover in much wider curves than the gopher snake.
Gopher snakes are especially known for their special diet. As mentioned earlier, they aren’t interested in humans; rather, they are fixated on rodents, lizards, bats, eggs, birds, and so on.
They also have a large range of predators, from coyotes to foxes and other birds of prey.
Sometimes, they deliberately mimic the movements of the rattlesnake by shaking their tails to wade off predators, including humans.
Gopher snakes are a widely known type of snakes found in California. You can easily spot one on a sunny day in a semi-arid, flat area.
2. California King Snake
The California king snake is next on our list of different snakes in California. The California ING snake is seen in almost all areas in California.
Commonly referred to as the king snake, the king snake is one of the most favorite snakes to own, which is greatly attributed to its coloring and size.
Unlike the gopher snake, at 3-5 feet, they maintain a small size, so you don’t need to have a gigantic terrarium to place them in.
They come in different colors and patterns and are very neat to the eyes.
Sometimes, it is easy to confuse the king snake with the coral snake or any other different snake in California due to its wide range of colors and patterns.
However, it is important to note that the king and coral snakes are two different species.
Also, you should note that the coral snake isn’t among the different snakes in California.
The king snakes are widely distributed in California and can also be found in urban areas.
Like the gopher snakes, king snakes try to imitate rattlesnakes by vigorously shaking their tails to ward off predators.
The king snakes aren’t readily aggressive and wouldn’t attempt to attack you unless you persistently disturb them.
Another great thing about the king snake is that it is immune to snake venom, so it regularly preys on rattlesnakes.
Hence, if you are disturbed by a rattlesnake, you only need to get a king snake and watch them care for your problem.
3. Ring-necked Snake
The ring-necked snakes are another type of snake that you would come across in California.
However, this species is nocturnal; hence, you probably haven’t encountered one of them even if they reside near you.
They have dark bodies, which help them blend with their environment and mask their nature.
They are also very fast, so it is difficult to see them. They usually take off immediately after being spotted.
Their speed helps keep them in existence, as they are easy prey to predators such as owls, hogs, frogs, and skunks.
They can be seen in forests, mashes, hillsides, and other habitats accessible to snakes.
You can easily own one. To spot one, look for an 11-16-inch snake with an orange band around its neck. They have an average lifespan of 10-20 years.
Although the ring-necked snakes are considered harmless to humans, they contain quite a bit of venom, which they use to paralyze their prey before killing them through constriction.
This venom is contained in their back teeth, and it is such a small portion that they would have to continually chew on their prey before the poison takes full effect.
The ring-necked snakes feed on lizards, small frogs, worms, and slugs.
Fortunately for humans, their venom is very minute and can’t cause any damage, but that doesn’t mean their bites don’t hurt.
4. Northern Rubber Boa
The Northern Rubber Boa is another harmless type of snake that you would see in California.
The northern rubber boa snake is a nocturnal species that is difficult to see during the day. It is usually plain-colored with no patterns, and its skin is mostly brown.
Often, it is quite common to see marks of biting and chewing on their bodies.
This results from constantly having a face-off with rodents as they always hide in rodent burrows during the day.
During the day, the Northern Rubber Boa finds a cool, shady place to rest, and they stroll out at night.
Hence, if they aren’t seen under rocks or logs, they can be found in rat holes and mouse burrows.
The average Northern Rubber Boa measures 21-30 inches in length and can live up to 20-40years.
5. Southern Rubber Boa
Another set of different snakes in California is the Southern rubber boa.
Like the northern rubber boa, the southern rubber boa is plain colored and either dark brown or light brown. They have an average length of 19-25 inches and can live up to 20 years.
This particular species is known to reside in forests, especially hardwood forests.
These species are among the few snakes with excellent ground-moving abilities. They are also known to be climbers and great swimmers.
They generally come off as hostile to humans; however, they always give warning signs before they attack and bite you.
Furthermore, their bites have little or no effects on humans as they are non-venomous.
They are generally very active between April and July, during which time they mate and are seen.
However, after July, they temporarily resign to their places of solitude before being seen again.
They feed on small birds, small mammals, and lizards.
They are also nocturnal, mostly residing under large rocks and logs during the day and coming out at night.
6. Rosy Boa
The Rosy boa, also known as the rosy coastal boa or the desert boa, is another set of different snakes in California you can find.
Like the northern and southern boa, the Rosy boa is native to California.
They get their name from the unique color of their skin. They can grow to as long as 44 inches and have a lifespan of 30 years.
This snake appears in different colors, resulting from the impacts of the environment’s other elements of the environment on its skin.
They are especially even in rose salmon color, which brought about their name. The Rosy boa is mostly seen in Baja, California and Southern California.
They are considered a friendly bunch as they allow for touching and humans to carry them.
However, they tend to release a foul odor whenever they feel threatened as a warning sign.
7. Glossy Snake
Also known as the faded snake, glossy snakes are another class of snakes that have resided in California for ages.
They are known to live within the California chaparral regions. These snakes are nocturnal and are only seen when they crawl out of their hideouts within large rocks.
These snakes are nocturnal and are only seen when they crawl out of their hideouts within large rocks. At night, they feed on rodents when they go out for a stroll.
Although they are seen as nocturnal, they sometimes come out during the day when they are hungry to hunt for prey.
Due to their secretive nature, they often appear rare as they are hardly seen during the day or at night.
However, like the rubber boa, the glossy snake also resides in rat holes and mice burrows during the day and at night.
An adult glossy snake measures 20-50 inches and has an average lifespan of 20 years.
8. Western Shovelnose Snake
The Western Shovelnose Snake is a group of small and different snakes in California that one would encounter.
They are known to be small and distinct because they measure between 11 and 17 inches and can be widely distinguished by the brown stripes on their bodies.
This group of snakes is often considered desert snakes, and hence, it is impossible to see them in Northern California.
Instead, they are usually seen in parts of Southern California. Because they are smaller snakes, they don’t feed on mammals but enjoy feeding on insects.
These snakes are mostly seen in areas with abundant rocks with little or no vegetation.
9. Eastern Racer
The Eastern Racer is one of the snakes you would encounter in California. The Eastern racer is a non-venomous snake and is very fast, hence their name.
They can appear in one uniform color or have different prints on their skins. These types of snakes are fairly common in California.
The California species usually come in rare colors, such as different shades of brown, which may include blue or black stripes.
This color is particularly seen in only the California species of the Eastern racers.
Black Eastern racers are commonly seen. The black Eastern Racers are usually found in tall grasses.
Here, they hide and occasionally raise their heads to check for prey and predators.
According to some beliefs, the black Eastern racer is often said to be a constrictor, killing its prey by suffocation.
However, over time, this line of thought has been proven wrong. These snakes aren’t constrictors.
Rather, they capture their prey and push their bodies on them to stop them from escaping before finally inserting their fangs into them.
10. Forest Sharp-tailed Snake
The Forest sharp-tailed snake is one of the different snakes in California that presents with another color head.
These snakes show a dark or dark gray color lined with orange undertones.
Dorsally, they have a black or brown color, while their underbelly presents a light color with black scale patches.
These snakes are termed ‘secretive agents’ as they hide all day. You would mostly see the forest sharp-tailed snake after it rains.
This is when they mostly come out to hunt for their prey. These snakes are known for having sharp teeth, which serve as a great advantage as they tend to capture all kinds of prey, including slippery ones such as salamanders.
11. Sharp-tailed Snake
This is another group of different snakes in California that you would likely come across.
These snakes are known by various common names, such as the brown snake, gentle brown snake, Oregon warm snake, and Pacific ground snake.
These snakes are among the very few you would see in Urban areas of California.
The adult sharp-tailed snake measures 12-18 inches in length. It has banded coloring and is famous for its sharp tail.
The Sharp-tailed snakes are specifically known as burrowing species.
They are known for burrowing, so they are often found in soft soils where they can easily dig, move around, and find slugs.
It is important to note that they aren’t poisonous. Finding this type of snake out in the open space is difficult.
However, they can easily be seen in parks and gardens after removing large logs or stones.
12. Desert Night Snake
You need to be aware of this group of different snakes in California.
The Desert Night snake is a group of species with blotched gray mixed with brown color on their dorsal parts while having a different bright color on their underbelly.
Snakes found in this group are seen to inhabit specific habitats in California, such as the scrubs.
However, this doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy the grasslands and rocky terrains.
These snakes tend to grow long as their adults measure about 15 inches.
However, these types of snakes can grow to as long as 26 inches in places with abundant food.
13. Coach Whip Snake
Are you searching for a common but different group of snakes in California? It would be best if you considered the coachwhip snake.
The Coachwhip snake is one of the most common snakes you can easily see roaming around. It is mostly found in oil palms, grasslands, farms, and woodlands.
They usually make their presence known by raising their heads above the vegetation. They also use this method to scout for their prey.
Because of their bulky eyes, they have great eyesight. These sets of different snakes in California are very aggressive and fast.
It is imperative to note that the coachwhip snake shouldn’t be handled. Although their bites are not venomous, it doesn’t stop them from being painful.
These types of snakes are quick to bite and can inflict pain on the victim. They bite without giving the victim a prior warning. They are long, measuring up to 50 inches long, and fast.
These snakes mostly tend to disappear just as quickly as they bite. The snakes of this particular genus can go as fast as 4 miles per hour while fleeing.
14. Banded Water Snake
Also known as the Southern water snake, the Banded water snake is one of the different snakes in California you will discover.
These snakes are mostly seen in aquatic habitats. They are either seen having a deep green body covered with white stripes, an orange body with stripes, or a gray body with stripes. They are long snakes that can grow to a maximum of 42 inches.
They are non-poisonous and need water to survive; hence, they don’t travel far away from water sources. Therefore, one would mostly see these types of snakes in ponds or lakes.
Because they often share their habitats with other different types of snakes in California, it is easy for people to mix the banded water snake with other species of snakes, especially the venomous cottonmouth snake.
Although most different snakes in California are largely non-venomous, we also have a few groups of snakes you wouldn’t like to cross.
These snakes are commonly known as rattlesnakes. There are majorly seven types of rattlesnakes found in California that you should be aware of.
15. Red Diamond Rattlesnake
The Red diamond rattlesnake is a long snake that can grow to about 38 inches. Its skin is faded red.
It is easy to find these types of snakes in California, especially in certain areas such as Baja California, the islands of the Gulf of California, and Southern California.
According to reptile experts, the Red diamond rattlesnake is said to be the least poisonous among the venomous rattlesnake; however, this doesn’t mean that their poison isn’t potent.
Their bites remain lethal to humans, and in a situation where a person has been bitten, immediate medical attention is needed, and antivenom should be administered.
16. Side Winder
It would be best if you watched out for other venomous snakes in California, such as the sidewinder rattlesnakes.
Also known as the horned rattlesnakes, these groups of snakes belong to the venomous pit viper snakes.
You will always come across small to medium snakes if you reside in Southern California.
Their adults measure about 17-30 inches in length. The side Winders get their name from their unusual movements in the sand and Arid areas.
They commonly leave a ‘J’ print after they have passed a particular area. They are usually seen during the winter as they are diurnal during this season.
However, because of the high temperatures during the summer, these snakes become nocturnal to escape the sun’s heat.
17. Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
Also known as the Pale rattler, they are one of the venomous types of snakes that you may encounter in California, especially in Southern California.
They are considered mildly venomous; however, after a person has been bitten, hospitalization is required, and antivenom must be administered immediately.
The pain from their bites can last up to an hour or even more. Because they are small snakes measuring a few feet, they mostly reside in mammal burrows, thus feeding on them. However, they can also be seen in rocky terrains such as scrubs.
18. Mojave Rattlesnake
Another type of snake in California that is very dangerous is the Mojave Rattlesnake.
They are very common small snakes measuring 3-4.5 feet long when fully grown.
These snakes are considered one of the most venomous rattlesnakes ever encountered.
As their names imply, these snakes are mostly found in the Mojave desert and some outer parts of the city.
They are known to be especially aggressive towards humans.
They have gray-brown colored skin. However, their venom is just as lethal. A human can die within hours of the bite if antivenom isn’t immediately administered.
19. Panamint Rattlesnake
Another of the different snakes in California you must recognize and stay away from is the Panamint Rattlesnake.
Also known as the tiger rattlesnake, this medium-sized snake has a gray coloring.
They are mostly seen in California and some parts of Nevada. They grow only 3-4 feet long.
These different snakes in California are unique among the Rattlesnakes with their triangular head.
This head is used to mimic biting to scare off predators. These snakes are particularly venomous.
Although they hardly bite humans, unlike the Mojave Rattlesnake, antivenom must be immediately given once bitten.
Like other different snakes in California, the Panamint snake detects the presence of people with body heat and, as such, tends to run away at the sites of humans or other larger animals.
20. Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Another very dangerous species of snake in California is the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.
Also known as the Texas rattler, they have gray-brown colored skin with lots of blotches, mostly seen on their dorsal bodies.
Often, when a rattlesnake attacks a person in California, the rattlesnake responsible is the Western diamondback rattlesnake.
They are usually found in rodent burrows and eat smaller mammals. Their bites are so lethal that when placed in their territory, they begin to cause muscle destruction.
Aside from destroying muscle, their venom, when introduced into the bloodstream, can break down blood cells, causing excessive bleeding.
Once a person is bitten, the person must be carried to a hospital and an antivenom immediately administered.
