Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

We have horses and kids in Southern California (Ventura County). We've been finding Rattlesnakes out by the horses, so we're looking for a way to get rid of them. We've heard that California King Snakes eat Rattlesnakes, so we thought it might help if we transplanted some King Snakes to the yard and let them take care of the problem naturally. We wouldn't want to release pet snakes out there, but that's all we've been able to find online. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!
Amy & Family

Can I offer a suggestion that is biologically sound and proven through field observation?

I understand your concern over the fact that rattlesnakes are in your yard, but if you live in Ventura, CA you should already have Cali kings in your area. If they are absent it is due to some environmental factor that will not be reversed if you introduce snakes into that area. Maybe the habitat isn't able to support kings there? Carrying capacity could be a factor. If the rattlesnakes are very prevelent and competing for resources with other species they may be top dog right now, and the introduction of a species that is absent can have detrimental impacts to the other populations. I would not recommend you release any kingsnake there. If kings are present they are genetically unique to that area. That will all change if you add captive snakes with no data to the environment.

Try to remove the unwanted snakes with a broom and a trash can and relocate them.

Sound and sage advice. Kudos to Matt!
Todd Hughes

on your property then you probably have kingsnakes, I grew up in Cal and everywhere i caught a king i usually caught rattler, sooner or later.

that was like 40 yrs ago, times have changed.

You may just have to trap your own rodents (with environmentally safe traps of course), if you want to get rid of one major food source of rattlesnakes. Next, remove any large loose items that may be lying around on your property (and NEAR your property if possible), ie: tin sheets, boards, doors, old carpets, anything large and flat that can create a cozy microhabitat for snakes (& rodents). If you have any of these items, then elvate them off the ground at least 6 inches or so with some four by fours. This WILL reduce your rattlesnake population AND discourage them from taking up residence when they do find your property. That's about the best I can recommend, as introducing kingsnakes will not work (as Matt had already mentioned). Kingsnakes do not target rattlers exdclusively - they will eat any small reptile or mammal that they encounter in the wild. So even if they did stick around your property (which they don't - they are classified as a wandering snake), their impact would be extremely minimal AT BEST! Sorry, but that's the truth. . .

I bet these two (six foot plus eastern kings) could wreak havoc on all the rattlers on your property (if only you could put them on a leash), lol:

Zee

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"I am an expert on everything, but I know so little and have so much to learn!" -Carsten "Zee" Zoldy-

N/m
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"I am an expert on everything, but I know so little and have so much to learn!" -Carsten "Zee" Zoldy-

Blue King is correct and your local animal control agency should be able to give you more detailed advice. A couple more points.
1 It is illegal in CA to release captive snakes into the wild because they may appear healthy but carry diseases which wild snakes are not immune to.
2 There is significant local variations in color and pattern in CA kingsnakes and putting kingsnakes from one population into another one can potentially alter the natural beauty of that population that has taken thousands of generations to form.
3 As others mentioned kingsnakes are widespread in CA and if you have rattlers there are probably already kings there and either you are just not seeing the kings (they are more secretive than rattlers) or there is something about the habitat that allows the rattlers to be dominant.
4 Kingsnakes do eat rattlers sometimes but they don't have a special preference for them and the two species coexist, partly because kings are more active in the mornings and evenings when it is cooler and rattlers in the middle of the day when it is hotter.

Get a cat to live in the barn. Farmers have done this for centuries. A cat in the barn will get rid of the rodents, which are what feeds the rattlesnakes.

They may also rid you of those pesky kings! Be wary!
Todd Hughes