California Night Snake

It’s that time again: spring!  Nature has been staging post-winter awakenings around here for weeks now, and due to what was another healthy rainy season, there is an abundance of plant life, which fuels a myriad of other life.  Wildflowers, fawns, bees, lizards, and…snakes!

This little friend popped up in a pile of gravel on a trail work day last weekend.  He/she is a California night snake (Hypsiglena torquata nuchalata), one of the rarest snakes in Sonoma County and although mildly venomous, known to be harmless to humans.  California night snakes are nocturnal and are generally about 7 inches long at birth; this one was likely at its first molt.  When coiled, it could have fit on a nickel.  Their diet includes insects, lizards and other snakes.

When visiting wildlife areas, we recommend staying in the middle of the trail, wearing loose, long pants, and staying aware of your surroundings (btw, as many as 40% of snake bite victims are under the influence of alcohol when bitten 🤪).  Avoid touching or handling snakes, and if you see one, back away slowly without making sudden movements.  Stay safe, friends.