Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I found a snake in my tack shed. It was coiled up and had red and yellow/creamish bands going around its body about an inch thick all over. There was no black on it. It looked to be about 3 feet long and about 1 to 2 inches thick in diameter.I live in the high desert of California. I searched snakes in California, but could not find any that looked like this one. Could it be someone's pet? It took off when I startled it. I don't know if it's still hiding in my shed. It looks similar to a corn snake, but they don't live in this area. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

My best guess, & that's all it is at this point , is the western ground snake, Sonora semiannulata. They are more often striped than banded, but they are so highly variable that this is a possibility. They enter California in the southern half of the state, along its western border.

~~Greg~~

Hi, I looked up the western ground snake. It did have the same markings as that snake, but it was either red or orange banded with white and it looked to be about 3 feet long. The western ground snake says it only gets up to around 15" long and is small. It looks more like a king snake, but without the black on it. Hopefully, I'll see it again and get a better look at it.

Hi, The snake looks just like an albino ruthvens king snake. I don't know if that's possible, but that's what it looks like.

Thanks!

Try looking at a photo of a California Mt. King. Better odds on it being an albino of that than anything else.

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