enjoyed and left where they are found. are they where left and enjoyed and future generations. future and
other reptile populations. They must be be must They populations. reptile other protect wildlife and their environment for present present for environment their and wildlife protect
controlling agents of rodent, insect, and and insect, rodent, of agents controlling Bay Regional Park District. Please help us to to us help Please District. Park Regional Bay
natural environment. They are prime prime are They environment. natural any plants or animals from the East East the from animals or plants any
are an important resource in the the in resource important an are to collect, kill, or remove remove or kill, collect, to
Remember:
Snakes Snakes It is illegal illegal is It
without burning pain. burning without jaw. This allows a snake to swallow prey larger larger prey swallow to snake a allows This jaw.
Other snakebites may leave multiple teeth marks marks teeth multiple leave may snakebites Other ligaments in the throat and between bones in the the in bones between and throat the in ligaments
burning pain. This is typical of a rattlesnake bite. bite. rattlesnake a of typical is This pain. burning The jaw is expandable due to elastic muscles and and muscles elastic to due expandable is jaw The
cases one puncture mark) associated with intense, intense, with associated mark) puncture one cases bodies around prey animals to constrict them. them. constrict to animals prey around bodies
check the bite for two puncture marks (in rare rare (in marks puncture two for bite the check swallow them whole. Other snakes wrap their their wrap snakes Other whole. them swallow
interesting creatures. interesting
If you are not sure what kind of snake bit you, you, bit snake of kind what sure not are you If 3. Some snakes capture prey with their mouths and and mouths their with prey capture snakes Some
provide a place to view and enjoy these these enjoy and view to place a provide
water or an antiseptic and seek medical attention. medical seek and antiseptic an or water small mammals, and other reptiles. other and mammals, small remain a refuge for wildlife and and wildlife for refuge a remain
and soap with wound the Wash alone. snake snake, they eat insects, slugs, frogs, birds, bird eggs, eggs, bird birds, frogs, slugs, insects, eat they snake, cooperation, our parklands will will parklands our cooperation,
If bitten by any other kind of snake, leave the the leave snake, of kind other any by bitten If 2. trying to catch prey. Depending upon the kind of of kind the upon Depending prey. catch to trying Fortunately, with your your with Fortunately,
A warmer body allows a snake to move faster when when faster move to snake a allows body warmer A
sheds, a a sheds, new rattle rattle new employee, or a phone to Dial 911. Do Not Run. Not Do 911. Dial to phone a or employee, their continued survival. survival. continued their
shade. of out and in moving by temperature body
this colorless layer of skin. Each time a rattlesnake rattlesnake a time Each skin. of layer colorless this nearest source of help: another person, a park park a person, another help: of source nearest from their habitat also threaten threaten also habitat their from
observing snakes. Snakes are able to regulate their their regulate to able are Snakes snakes. observing
or log. Snakes rub against these to help peel off off peel help to these against rub Snakes log. or kits. If you are by yourself, walk calmly to the the to calmly walk yourself, by are you If kits. who harm snakes or remove them them remove or snakes harm who
Spring and summer are the best seasons for for seasons best the are summer and Spring
lucky enough to find a shed skin close to a rock rock a to close skin shed a find to enough lucky tourniquets, “cutting and sucking,” or snake bite bite snake or sucking,” and “cutting tourniquets, chances for their survival. People People survival. their for chances
Snakes shed their skin as they grow. You may be be may You grow. they as skin their shed Snakes than the heart. Do Not waste precious time on on time precious waste Not Do heart. the than projects reduce the habitat and and habitat the reduce projects
the East Bay Regional Parks. Regional Bay East the
with scales. A clear scale protects each eye. eye. each protects scale clear A scales. with calm by lying down with the affected limb lower lower limb affected the with down lying by calm roads, and other construction construction other and roads,
you identify some of the snakes you may meet in in meet may you snakes the of some identify you
As with all reptiles, snakes have bodies covered covered bodies have snakes reptiles, all with As someone to Call 911. The victim should remain remain should victim The 911. Call to someone Parks, housing developments, new new developments, housing Parks,
its life history. This brochure is designed to help help to designed is brochure This history. life its
If bitten by a rattlesnake, stay calm and send send and calm stay rattlesnake, a by bitten If 1.
environment. Outside the Regional Regional the Outside environment.
food. food. fun to identify the snake and learn something about about something learn and snake the identify to fun
are allowed to survive in their natural natural their in survive to allowed are
Bitten by a Snake: Snake: a by Bitten and the movement of prey when hunting for for hunting when prey of movement the and away before you know it. Whatever the case, it is is it case, the Whatever it. know you before away
responsibility to see that these animals animals these that see to responsibility rely on “tasting the air”(their sense of smell), smell), of sense air”(their the “tasting on rely you of their presence. Others may see you and slip slip and you see may Others presence. their of you
if Do to What
Park District are protected. It is our our is It protected. are District Park
helps identify the chemicals in the air. Snakes Snakes air. the in chemicals the identify helps such as the northern pacific rattlesnake, may warn warn may rattlesnake, pacific northern the as such
All snakes in the East Bay Regional Regional Bay East the in snakes All
that that organ Jacobson’s the called mouth the find a snake quietly going about its business. Some, Some, business. its about going quietly snake a find
tips of the tongue fit into an organ in the roof of of roof the in organ an into fit tongue the of tips
secretive in nature, every now and then you will will you then and now every nature, in secretive
identify, give it plenty of room and leave it alone. it leave and room of plenty it give identify,
food and danger by flicking them in and out. The The out. and in them flicking by danger and food
attention when you see them. Although they are are they Although them. see you when attention
If you see a rattlesnake or a snake you can’t can’t you snake a or rattlesnake a see you If 6.
Snakes use their tongues to help identify (smell) (smell) identify help to tongues their use Snakes frightened by snakes, they are sure to capture your your capture to sure are they snakes, by frightened
disturb it. disturb a tablespoon! Whether you are fascinated or or fascinated are you Whether tablespoon! a
burrows where the scent trail can be confusing. confusing. be can trail scent the where burrows
camp area, notify park staff. Do not not Do staff. park notify area, camp some buses and tiny ones that will fit in in fit will that ones tiny and buses some
pits enable rattlesnakes to locate prey even in dark dark in even prey locate to rattlesnakes enable pits
If you find a rattlesnake in a picnic or or picnic a in rattlesnake a find you If 5. There are giant snakes longer than than longer snakes giant are There
. These These . pits loreal called heads their of side each on some snakes will also bite in defense. As a a As defense. in bite also will snakes some
. . animals of group amazing
campsites, and barbecues before using them. using before barbecues and campsites, Rattlesnakes also have temperature-sensitive organs organs temperature-sensitive have also Rattlesnakes foul-smelling fluid if handled. When threatened, threatened, When handled. if fluid foul-smelling
S
nakes are an an are nakes
Check the immediate area around picnic tables, tables, picnic around area immediate the Check 4. primary purpose is for catching food, not defense. defense. not food, catching for is purpose primary warning, while some other snakes might emit a a emit might snakes other some while warning,
Although the poison is harmful to humans, its its humans, to harmful is poison the Although slithering away. A rattlesnake may rattle as a a as rattle may rattlesnake A away. slithering
see clearly. see
Rattlesnakes use poison to kill their prey. prey. their kill to poison use Rattlesnakes on their colors to camouflage them, or by quickly quickly by or them, camouflage to colors their on
Avoid placing your hands or feet where you can’t can’t you where feet or hands your placing Avoid 3.
Snakes protect themselves by not moving, relying relying moving, not by themselves protect Snakes
a prey animal. prey a
before sitting down. sitting before
a bulge indicating that it has recently swallowed swallowed recently has it that indicating bulge a
years it has lived. lived. has it years
Look carefully around and under logs and rocks rocks and logs under and around carefully Look 2.
with snake a find might You mouth. its into shows how many times it has shed, not how many many how not shed, has it times many how shows
Look at the ground ahead of you as you are walking. are you as you of ahead ground the at Look 1. hooked teeth and flexible jaws to pull an animal animal an pull to jaws flexible and teeth hooked
Therefore, the number of rattles on a rattlesnake rattlesnake a on rattles of number the Therefore,
In Snake Country: Snake In than the width of its head. The snake uses its tiny tiny its uses snake The head. its of width the than forms, which may occur two to three times a year. year. a times three to two occur may which forms,
Snake photos courtesy Gary Nafis Gary courtesy photos Snake
Pacific Ring-necked Snake Ring-necked Pacific cover: the On
a rattlesnake and killed. and rattlesnake a
for mistaken often is .
org regionalparksfoundation
tail
. 510-544-2220 510-544-2220 . , more and pass dog The Pacific gophersnake gophersnake Pacific The
Rattles Pointed
, , , - birds, and lizards. and birds, swimming parking use day free receive
Regional Parks Membership: Parks Regional They eat small mammals, mammals, small eat They Food:
their prey. their
oak woodlands. woodlands. oak
20180927 510-544-2233, [email protected] 510-544-2233, often inhabit the same burrows as as burrows same the inhabit often
chaparral, blue oak, gray pine, and and pine, gray oak, blue chaparral,
Berkeley , Area Nature Tilden
bird eggs, and lizards. These snakes snakes These lizards. and eggs, bird
rock outcrops in annual grasslands, grasslands, annual in outcrops rock
Environmental Education Center/Little Farm Center/Little Education Environmental
They eat small mammals, birds, birds, mammals, small eat They Food:
sand dunes to timberline. They prefer prefer They timberline. to dunes sand
Berkeley, 510-544-3169, [email protected] 510-544-3169, Berkeley,
riparian areas. areas. riparian in a variety of habitats from coastal coastal from habitats of variety a in Tilden Regional Park, Regional Parks Botanic Garden Botanic Parks Regional Park, Regional Tilden
also found in chaparral, grassland, and and grassland, chaparral, in found also Rattlesnakes are found found are Rattlesnakes Habitat: Weekends only Weekends
woodlands. Pacific gophersnakes are are gophersnakes Pacific woodlands. [email protected] 510-544-3249,
15-62 inches. inches. 15-62 Length:
blue oak, gray pine, and oak oak and pine, gray oak, blue Sunol , Wilderness Regional Sunol-Ohlone
September to October. October. to September Old Green Barn Visitor Center Center Visitor Barn Green Old throughout California including including California throughout
average of 4-12 young born born young 4-12 of average Open summer weekends summer Open in many different habitats habitats different many in
and is live-bearing with an an with live-bearing is and [email protected] , Hills) (Coyote 510-544-3220 They are found found are They Habitat:
Hayward , Park Regional Garin or at night in warm weather, weather, warm in night at or
36-100 inches. inches. 36-100 Length:
Garin Barn Visitor Center/Dry Creek Garden Creek Center/Dry Visitor Barn Garin fall, in morning and evening evening and morning in fall,
Open summer weekends summer Open a70 days. days. a70 is most active in spring or or spring in active most is
body body
[email protected] 510-544-3146, about in hatching young the pieces of dry skin. This snake snake This skin. dry of pieces
dull dull shiny , Livermore , Park Regional Valle Del
spring to early summer, with with summer, early to spring made up of interlocking interlocking of up made
Rocky Ridge Visitor Center Visitor Ridge Rocky Thick Thick Slender
an average of 6-7 eggs in the the in eggs 6-7 of average an tapering with a“rattle,” is is a“rattle,” with tapering
510-544-3187, [email protected] 510-544-3187,
climber and burrower. It lays lays It burrower. and climber with keeled scales. The tail, tail, The scales. keeled with
Alameda , Beach State Memorial Crown
harmless. This snake is a good good a is snake This harmless. eye pupils. The skin is dull dull is skin The pupils. eye
Crab Cove Visitor Center Visitor Cove Crab
but the Pacific gophersnake is is gophersnake Pacific the but vertically oriented, elliptical elliptical oriented, vertically
510-544-3220, [email protected] 510-544-3220,
and behavior mimic a rattlesnake, rattlesnake, a mimic behavior and triangular with facial pits and and pits facial with triangular Fremont , Park Regional Hills Coyote
tail pointed. Its general coloration coloration general Its pointed. tail The head is broad, flat, and and flat, broad, is head The Coyote Hills Visitor Center Visitor Hills Coyote
back. The scales are keeled and the the and keeled are scales The back. brown or black dorsal blotches. blotches. dorsal black or brown 510-544-2750, [email protected] 510-544-2750,
, Antioch , Preserve Regional Mines Diamond Black or reddish-brown blotches on the the on blotches reddish-brown or background soil color, with with color, soil background
Greathouse and Sidney Flat Visitor Centers Visitor Flat Sidney and Greathouse yellow to buff with black, brown, brown, black, with buff to yellow varies, usually matching the the matching usually varies,
510-544-3050, [email protected] 510-544-3050, Pacific gophersnake is glossy glossy is gophersnake Pacific northern pacific rattlesnake rattlesnake pacific northern
Oakley , Shoreline Regional Break Big head head The background color of the the of color background The The general coloration of the the of coloration general The
Big Break Visitor Center at the Delta the at Center Visitor Break Big
Triangular Triangular Slender Slender
Gophersnake Rattlesnake
510-544-2797, [email protected] 510-544-2797,
, Fremont , Farm Historic Ardenwood Pacific Pacific Pacific Northern
Visitor Centers Visitor
ebparks.org
711) S TR ( 1-888-327-2757 or 1-888-EBPARKS
2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA 94605 CA Oakland, Court, Oaks Peralta 2950 Regional Park District Park Regional
in the East Bay Bay East the in
Common Snakes Snakes Common
Common Snakes in the East Bay Regional Park District
Northern Rubber Boa The northern rubber boa is a stout-bodied snake Diablo Range Gartersnake that looks and feels like rubber. Sometimes called Western Yellow- The coloration of the Diablo range gartersnake Coast Gartersnake the “two-headed snake” because it’s tail is shaped varies greatly depending upon the subspecies. somewhat like it’s head. It has shiny, smooth skin The back is usually blotched brown to black with The coloration of the coast gartersnake varies bellied Racer greatly depending upon the subspecies. The that can be brown to olive green on top and yellow The western yellow-bellied racer has large eyes a dorsal stripe. This snake is live-bearing with to cream below. It is usually active at dawn and 7-25 young born late summer to fall. subspecies in the East Bay has a bright yellow stripe and a long slender body which is olive-green, down the middle of the back. Bright red or orange dusk, but in the spring it is occasionally active blue-gray, or tan on top with a yellow belly. This Length: 18-57 inches. flecks or blotches usually present on belly and sides, during the day. The northern rubber boa is live- bearing with 2-8 young born August to November. snake is extremely fast, which is essential for Habitat: Primarily aquatic, they are found in and including side stripes. The scales are keeled. capturing certain prey. The young resemble along streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes from coastal This snake is live-bearing with 4-19 young born small gopher snakes except for their brackish marshes to the high mountains. July to September. large eyes and shiny, smooth scales. This snake lays 12-24 Food: They eat fish, frogs, salamanders, and mice. eggs in the early summer. This snake is one of the few that can eat the highly toxic California newt. Length: 22-78 inches. Habitat: Yellow-bellied racers are primarily found in
foothill grasslands, Length: 14-30 inches. brushlands, and moist Habitat: They are found in moist grassland, environments. woodland, and forested areas in and beneath rotting logs and where leaf litter and duff are Food: They Length: 18-42 inches. on the ground. They burrow, swim, and climb. eat mice, fledgling birds, Habitat: Coast gartersnake are found throughout Food: They eat small mammals, insects, and lizards. Northern California, the Sierra Nevada, and east of and lizards. the Sierra Nevada. They prefer areas along streams, among bushes, damp meadows, clearings, and chaparral with permanent water. Food: They eat tadpoles, frogs, fish, small mammals, and occasionally birds.
California Mountain Kingsnake Alameda Whipsnake The California mountain kingsnake is a colorful, shiny snake with black, red, and white bands and a black The Alameda whipsnake is a slender, fast-moving, California Kingsnake snout. This snake is harmless, but is often mistaken plain black, or dark brown snake with a conspicuous for the poisonous coral snake, which is not found yellow or orange stripe down each side. It is listed The California kingsnake has conspicuous in California. Its temperament is a bit nervous as threatened by the California Department of Fish alternating bands of black or dark brown with white and defensive. It mates from April to May and lays and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. or cream. The scales are smooth and shiny. They lay 4-8 eggs in the summer. It lays an average of 6 eggs in the summer. 6-12 eggs in early summer. Length: 30-82 inches. Habitat: California kingsnakes are found under logs, lumber, and rock outcrops in a variety of habitats throughout California. These habitats include forests, chaparral, grasslands, river bottoms, and deserts. Food: They eat other snakes (including rattlesnakes), lizards, birds, bird eggs, and mice.
Length: 30-60 inches. Length: 20-40 inches. The California kingsnake, handled Habitat: It lives in moist, cool canyons of Habitat: The whipsnake is usually found in here by an East Bay Regional Park District mountainous regions of California, in coniferous grassland, coastal scrub, or chaparral close to a naturalist, is becoming increasingly rare forests, and woodlands mixed with chaparral. water source. At present, this subspecies’ range in the Bay Area and should be left alone This is a very rare snake in the Park District. is limited to Alameda and Contra Costa counties. when encountered.
Food: They eat lizards, small snakes, small animals, Food: They eat rodents, small birds, other snakes, Photo: Bill Knowland and bird eggs. and their primary prey, fence lizards.
About Snake Skin A snake’s scaly skin is an incredible natural innovation, It helps the snake stay dry in wet weather, beautiful, supple and strong. It helps the snake move and keeps it from drying out in the summer. smoothly along the ground, through the grass, in and It can display brilliant colors, or hide out of holes, and even up Arkive.org; ©Doug Wechsler – naturepl.com a snake with a perfect blotchy into tall trees. A snake can camouflage. Amazingly, a snake’s do all of this with no arms scales are part of its skin, as are or legs for help. A snake’s the durable but clear “spectacles” Pacific Ring-necked Snake skin can also be a kind of covering its eyes. That’s why, Length: 12-30 inches. flexible armor, to protect when a snake sheds, all the scales The Pacific ring-necked snake is a small, slender come off together, even the eye Habitat: Ring-neck snakes prefer moist soil on the snake from cuts, or bites snake with a topside that is olive, brownish, blue- coverings, to reveal a perfect north-facing slopes of foothill canyons, grassland, from other animals, but still gray, or nearly black. It has a neck band that can be fresh skin and clear bright chaparral, and riparian areas. stretchy enough to allow for yellow, orange, or cream. The underside is red- a giant meal. Gartersnake with newly shed skin. eyes underneath! orange with black dots and the red intensifies on the Food: They eat mainly slender salamanders, but also underside of the tail. It lays 4-6 eggs in late spring. small tree frogs, lizards, earthworms, and insects.