State field guide · Data updated November 2026
Snakes in California
Quick answer
California has nearly 50 native snake species, and the only native venomous ones are its 7 rattlesnake species. Snakes are venomous, not poisonous: they inject venom with a bite. The western rattlesnake lives almost statewide; the other six are mostly snakes of the southern deserts and the southwest. A venomous yellow-bellied sea snake very rarely washes up on Southern California beaches. Every other snake in the state is harmless to people.
- Species
- ~50
- native species
- Venomous
- 7
- rattlesnake species
- Rare visitor
- 1
- venomous sea snake
01 — Venomous species first
The venomous snakes of California
California’s seven rattlesnakes are pit vipers: they have a heat-sensing pit between eye and nostril, vertical pupils, a broad head and a rattle at the tail tip. A missing rattle does not rule out a rattlesnake, since rattles can break off. Five of the seven are limited to the deserts and the southern part of the state.
Statewide from sea level to about 7,000 feet. Three subspecies: northern Pacific, southern Pacific and Great Basin rattlesnakes.
MISTAKEN FOR gopher snake, which has no rattle and a narrower head.
Mojave (Mohave) rattlesnakeCrotalus scutulatusDesert and foothills of southeastern California.
MISTAKEN FOR western diamondback and speckled rattlesnakes.
SidewinderCrotalus cerastesSandy desert from below sea level to about 6,000 feet; the smallest rattlesnake in California, with horn-like scales over the eyes.
MISTAKEN FOR other small desert rattlesnakes; its sideways track in sand is distinctive.
Red diamond rattlesnakeCrotalus ruberSouthwestern California south of Los Angeles, into Baja California. A state Species of Special Concern.
MISTAKEN FOR western rattlesnake, western diamondback.
Rocky desert slopes of the Colorado, Mojave and Sonoran deserts. Long listed as Crotalus mitchellii.
MISTAKEN FOR Panamint rattlesnake; color often matches the local rock.
Inland desert mountains and rocky slopes, reaching farther north than the speckled rattlesnake.
MISTAKEN FOR southwestern speckled rattlesnake.
Rare in California: desert areas of the far southeast only.
MISTAKEN FOR Mojave rattlesnake; compare the tail rings and head scales.
If someone is bitten, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222. If a pet is bitten, take it to a veterinarian right away. This page gives no first-aid or treatment instructions; see our safety disclaimer.
Yellow-bellied sea snake Hydrophis platurus. A highly venomous snake of warm tropical seas, black above and yellow below, with a flattened, paddle-like tail. It is not a resident: strays very occasionally drift north on warm El Niño waters and wash up on Southern California beaches, usually sick or injured. Do not touch one; photograph it from a distance.
02
Snakes recorded in California
Species are grouped by how often people report them. Abundance is our editorial estimate from agency and herp-society sources and varies by region. Snakes with a full profile on this site have a photo and link; the others are listed by name. Subspecies are grouped under their species.
Common · 15
Crotalus oreganus
Northern Pacific, southern Pacific and Great Basin rattlesnakes.
Pituophis catenifer
Often mistaken for a rattlesnake; hisses and vibrates its tail but has no rattle.
Lampropeltis californiae
Banded or striped black-and-white; eats other snakes, including rattlesnakes.
Thamnophis sirtalis
Thamnophis elegans
Coluber constrictor
Diadophis punctatus
Masticophis flagellum
Red racer in much of the state; fast and active by day.
Crotalus cerastes
Crotalus scutulatus
Chaparral and coastal scrub.
Coastal streams and ponds.
Small slug-eater in moist woodland.
Coast and desert forms; small and nocturnal.
Uncommon · 20
Arizona elegans
Lichanura orcutti
Rocky desert and coastal sage scrub in the south.
Charina bottae
Cool forests and meadows of the north and the mountains.
Crotalus ruber
Species of Special Concern; may not be taken or killed.
Red, black and white bands; mountain forests.
Far northwest corner of the state.
Colorado River and Imperial Valley.
Sand dunes and sandy flats.
Rocky country; mildly venomous saliva, not considered dangerous.
Tiny, worm-like burrower.
Rare, local or introduced · 10
Crotalus atrox
Far southeastern deserts only.
Rare ocean stray on Southern California beaches in warm El Niño years.
Found only in California, in a few Southern California mountain ranges.
Central Valley wetlands and rice country; found only in California.
Edge of range in the far southeast.
Edge of range in San Diego County.
Indotyphlops braminus
Tiny and worm-like; spread with potted plants.
Nerodia fasciata
Introduced; established in parts of Southern California.
Nerodia sipedon
Introduced; established locally.
03
Identify by color
Color is the first thing most people notice, but it varies with age, region and the soil or rock a snake lives on. Use these groups to narrow the list, then check the head, pupils and tail.
Almost always the California kingsnake. It can be banded or striped, and it is harmless.
Rattlesnakes, gopher snakes, glossy snakes and nightsnakes. The largest group; look for a rattle and a broad, triangular head.
Coachwhips (the red racer), rosy boas and red diamond rattlesnakes. Only the last has a rattle.
Gartersnakes, the striped racer, striped whipsnake and patch-nosed snakes. No California rattlesnake is striped.
California mountain kingsnake and long-nosed snake. California has no coral snakes.
Racers, rubber boas, sharp-tailed snakes and the tiny threadsnake and blind snake.
04
By region
California runs from rain forest to the hottest desert in North America, and its snakes change with each region.
Eureka, Redding and the redwood coast. Northern Pacific rattlesnakes, rubber boas, sharp-tailed snakes, northwestern and aquatic gartersnakes.
San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento and Central Valley farmland. Northern Pacific rattlesnakes in hills, gopher snakes, kingsnakes, racers and the giant gartersnake in valley wetlands.
Fresno and Yosemite to Lake Tahoe. California mountain kingsnakes, Sierra gartersnakes, rubber boas and western rattlesnakes; Great Basin rattlesnakes on the east side.
Coastal sage scrub and chaparral. Southern Pacific and red diamond rattlesnakes, rosy boas, kingsnakes, striped racers and two-striped gartersnakes.
Palm Springs, Barstow, Death Valley and El Centro. Sidewinders, Mojave, speckled and Panamint rattlesnakes, the rare western diamondback, coachwhips and shovel-nosed snakes.
Modoc Plateau and the Owens Valley. Great Basin rattlesnakes, gopher snakes, racers and western terrestrial gartersnakes in sagebrush.
05
Geography & climate
California has wet northern forests, mountains up to alpine heights, a long Central Valley, mild Mediterranean coasts and the Mojave and Colorado deserts. Rattlesnakes range from below sea level to about 11,000 feet. They favor rocky, open places for basking and hiding with water nearby, and turn up in parks, golf courses and suburbs as well as wild land.
Rattlesnakes become active in late winter or early spring. In spring and summer they are most active at dawn, dusk and night, and most bites happen between April and October. In fall and winter they are mostly inactive, sheltering in rock crevices, burrows or dense plants, though some come out on warm days.
06
Prey & predators
California snakes eat ground squirrels, gophers, mice and woodrats, lizards such as the western fence lizard and southern alligator lizard, frogs, fish, eggs, slugs and insects. Rattlesnakes and gopher snakes help keep rodents in check around farms and homes.
Snakes are eaten by red-tailed hawks, roadrunners, coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, house cats and the introduced Virginia opossum. The California kingsnake eats other snakes, including rattlesnakes.
07
Invasive species
Three nonnative snakes are established in California: the Brahminy blind snake, spread in potted plants, and two watersnakes native to the eastern United States. All three are harmless to people.
Tiny, worm-like burrower found in gardens and nursery soil.
Southern watersnakeNerodia fasciataEastern watersnake established in parts of Southern California.
Common watersnakeNerodia sipedonNorthern watersnake of the eastern US, established locally in California.
08
Laws & protected snakes
Rattlesnakes: according to UC Integrated Pest Management, California classifies rattlesnakes as native reptiles, and residents can take most rattlesnake species on private land without a license or permit, though a bag limit of two applies.
Red diamond rattlesnake: may not be taken or killed under state wildlife regulations, and is a California Species of Special Concern.
Commercial use: CDFW requires a Commercial Native Rattlesnake Permit to possess, breed, trade or transport native rattlesnakes for commercial venom extraction, or to sell, import or export venom products.
Several other California snakes have state or federal protection. Rules change, so check with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife before killing, collecting or moving any snake. UC IPM recommends hiring a professional snake removal service when a rattlesnake must be removed.
Keep reading
Sources
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife — Rattlesnakes
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife — Human-wildlife conflicts: snakes
- UC Integrated Pest Management (UC ANR) — Rattlesnakes
- Smithsonian Magazine — Venomous sea snake washes up on California beach
Data updated November 2026 · How we build these pages · Data sources