With some great information from SoCal herper Lou, I decided to head out into the Santa Cruz Mountain Range with my good herping friend this morning to see if I could find some early season- Fall snakes. I was optimistic when I left my house, as the weather in San Francisco was nice a cool-a nice change from the overbearing heat we have been having. However, my optimism towards surface active snakes dwindled as the temps rose and the hills looked drier and drier was I made my way through the SC mountains towards the San Mateo/Santa Clara region. The Bay Area, and probably the rest of CA, has been having a dry spell as of late, and the hillsides of the SC mountain range were golden and brown, with died grass and dried everything else. Not a good start...but my fingers were still crossed!



Headed to an interesting spot that consisted of grassy hillsides that were boredered with pine and oak trees. Some areas were also studded with dark black rocky outcroppings. "Zonata habitat" was the first thought I had when I treked up the hill. Herping soon commenced.



First few surface cover yielded only super charged Scelops that have heated well due to the 68-70F air temp in Santa Clara county. More cover more scelops. Flipping lizards, I finally came upon the first evidence of snakes in the area.



Shed Skin-most likely an adult California kingsnake (L.getula californiae)







Despite looking like an older shed, I was optimistic. I was in an area that my lifer getula lived.



More surface cover was flipped to no avail. The temps were rising and I feared getting skunked....until black and white was found amongst dusty brown dirt!



California kingsnake (L.getula californiae)-LIFER!!! Yearling.













I was THRILLED! Finally, a calking! This has always been a snake I have wanted to find in the wild and now here it sat under an old board. It is funny to think that I was able to locate the elusive L.zonata multifasciata before a common-ol' getula haha!



More pics



Me with the snake

















As you guys can probably tell by this long drawn out post about a little calking, I am thrilled with my find! What a way to start the fall!



Zach

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