They emerge in late summer so it should be large enough for a small pinkie. It may eat mouse parts as well. A small snake may need its prey scented with a lizard.

I did a quick google search of lake Piru. If your snake is a Patchnose it would be the Coast Patchnose, Salvadora hexalepis virgultea. This subspecies is listed in California as a species of special concern. This makes it illegal to possess. Due to its legal status and feeding issues your best course of action would be to release it into suitable habitat, preferably close to where it originated.
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Randy Hallman
Firehouse Herps

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