California King Snake's Habitat

The California King Snake, called "king" because it eats other snakes, is an American constrictor with alternating bands of black and cream, reddish-brown and cream and red and cream scale color.

  1. Range

    • The California King Snake exceeds California's political border, from the tip of the Baja Peninsula, to southern Oregon, from the west coast of California, to the deserts of Nevada and Arizona.

    Habitat

    • California King Snakes live in deserts, light forests and even near permanent bodies of water. They are most abundant in valley areas and near moving bodies of water.

    Absent Areas

    • While the California King Snake is dispersed abundantly throughout California, it cannot be found in the high elevations of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, nor can it be found in the very wet redwood forests in the northwest.

    Feeding Habitats

    • California King Snakes feed on small mammals and other snakes, therefore, they can be found in mammal burrows and under large rocks, searching for other snakes.

    Reproduction Habitat

    • California King Snakes lay their eggs in loose, aerated soil, abandoned rodent burrows and rotten logs.