Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This little 12" long juvenile looking snake was found in southwest Idaho, USA, 10 miles north of the snake river between Melba and Nampa in an undeveloped area of our property. The area is between 2 irrigation ditches (dry now, wet in season). The terrain is grassy, weedy, and has some lava rock. He was found under some old rusty sheet metal. There are gophers, pheasants and other birds, crickets and other insects in the area. This is basically farm and livestock land.

The snake has light, medium and dark gray / brown jagged banding up front, fading to solid gray / brown in back, dark (red?) eyes, black tongue, yellow underbelly. Please see the images.

If you can identify the type of snake my 10 year old son would be really excited! Thanks for any help you can offer.

BT in ID

I do believe that is a Western yellow-bellied racer, Coluber constrictor mormon. The young, as with all the racers & whipsnakes, do not look like the adults for about the first year.

~~Greg~~

I do beleave you are right Greg.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

That is a western yellow bellied racer. They turn a solid green or tan when they get close to adult size. Adults don't have the greatest disposition, but with a little work yoiu should have a good pet there. They eat insects and rodents, try starting him on store bought crickets, he shaould take them ok and work him onto large grasshoppers as he gets big. They also eat eat mice as a normal part of their diet in the wild.