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Dog Wash
& Boutique

Ask Dr. Dave - Snake Identification (May 2008)

By request, we are going to address the issue of snakes this month. We have thought this to be a necessary topic for awhile since we do live in a snake prone area.  Some people believe that all snakes should be done away with as their fears override the knowledge that snakes are beneficial. As we watched someone deliberately run over a gorgeous and very large gopher snake last week, we decided to try to educate our neighbors in hopes that they might not continue to kill creatures unnecessarily.

A good rule of thumb to remember is that many snakes will hiss, puff up, vibrate their tail (NOTE: NO RATTLES), and even strike if provoked. This is true of harmless snakes as well as vipers. This is strictly a defense mechanism. While you can still be bitten, these snakes do not inject poisons or venom that are harmful to people or animals. These snakes have heads that are about the same width as their bodies. This includes gopher snakes, garter snakes, rosy boas and king snakes which are all common in this area.

GOPHER SNAKES:

Large and powerful in build. Small head. A light colored snake with brown, black or reddish brown blotches on sides and back. Active during the day and sometimes at night if it is hot. A RODENT eater!!!

GARTER SNAKES:

The most common snake in North America. Not as heavy bodied as a gopher snake. All in this species have well defined stripes on their back and sides. Are ill tempered when they first wake up. Eat toads, frogs, lizards, snakes and mice.  Usually live in large groups.

ROSY BOAS:

A smooth, shiny, stout tan (or brown) and reddish brown snake with 3 brown stripes down its back. Head and tail are short and blunt. Usually nocturnal. Eats small mammals (not dogs and cats) and birds.

KING SNAKES:

Large, usually black or chocolate brown with large, light colored crossbands or a back stripe. Active early in the morning or near dusk. Nocturnal when it’s hot.  EATS RATTLESNAKES, lizards, mice and birds. Docile snake when handled.

RATTLESNAKES:

Pit vipers. LARGE, triangular shaped head. Heavy bodied. Patterned with blotches or crossbands. Back patterned with light bordered dark diamonds or hexagonal blotches. Stripe behind eye. Can add 2 to 4 "rattles" per year. Bear live young. Care must be used when capturing (what we choose to do) or killing these snakes. Disposing of the head should be done in a safe manner as the fangs can still dispense poison once the snake is dead. If burying the head, bury it deep as other creatures, including pets, can dig it up and be poisoned by it.

Another creature that bears mention here is the California Legless Lizard. As with other lizards, it has eyelids. Shiny silver or tan with a dark stripe down the back and dark stripes on the sides. The back is sometimes completely dark and the belly is yellow. Generally nocturnal. Lives in leaf litter and areas where it can find insects and insect larvae. Pesticides have made these lizards more scarce.  Harmless to us and our pets.

We hope that this overview helps you to differentiate between harmless and harmful snakes in our area. Snakes are really not to be feared as they are a beneficial part of our environment. Please think twice before killing a snake just because it is a snake.

Dr. Dave Gantenbein
Antelope Valley Animal Hospital
(661) 273-1234