Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have read that there are nightsnakes in British Columbia. I haven't found much information on them. All I know is that they are rear-fanged and they don't have a very toxic venom. Can anyone give me any more information on these snakes?

ok...went thru all my sources and found no records of Nightsnakes (Hypsiglena) north of mid-Washington state so I can neither confirm or deny that they cross into Canada, though it looks doubtful. night snakes are small (av 14-16" arid to semiarid terrain. The venom is mild...but, because of an underdevloped delivery system and their small size, should be considered harmless. For more about them, check the recent posts on this forum.
Frank

Hi, I am responding to your question as to whether night snakes range into Canada.In Francis R.Cook's "Introduction to Canadian Amphibians and Reptiles" [1984] the Desert Night Snake [Hypsiglena torquata deserticola]is described on pg.154-155. It was first recorded in 1980 from the lower Okanagan valley in south central British Columbia. From the range map provided this locality is just over the U.S. border. Being at the extreme northern limit of its range, I don't imagine that its very common,but it has definitely been documented as being a component of the Canadian herpetofauna. Hope you find this info useful. Regards Grant

Does the book say they are an isolated population...or an extension of the Washington range...?
Frank

Hi Frank, The book says nothing about the night snake's population status in British Columbia,but the range map shows a fairly substantial gap between the Washington range and the Canadian locality. So that would seem to indicate that the Canadian population is isolated from the U.S.one. Of course this could be an artifact of insufficent field data ,I don't know how well Washington's herpetofauna has been surveyed I'm not familiar with the north west.Its an interesting question. I know a few herpers in B.C., I'll see if I can get more info. Let you know if I come up with anything. Regards Grant

The info and source will allow me to update. thanks, Frank

Hi Frank,as promised I managed to dig up some additional info on night snakes in Canada. Apparently there have been a total of 17 specimens recorded from Britsh Columbia during the last 21 years. 16 specimens have been recorded from the southern Okanagan Valley,and 1 specimen has been recorded from the Simkaleen Valley[I think I spelled that right]. Both of these localities are in the south central part of the province.Hopefully further field work will uncover more specimens. Regards Grant

Printed this out so my records are updated...Thanks again. Frank

The only hard thing just is that all you can get them to eat is geckos or geckos tails when smaller then you can only feed them gecko scented pinkies when larger. I have a small wild caught night. If you get one and you need a couple of breeding geckos you can buy a breeder colony from a supplier in a warmer state. My favs are mediterranean gecko tails. My night is a Texas night snake, but i don't think there would be too much diff.