Help Identifying a Baby Snake

ph1958 · 09-01-17, 11:12 AM

This was recovered in Northern California at the base of the foothills. Two of us think it is a rattlesnake and two of us think it is something else perhaps a gopher snake.

Help with identifying the species would be much appreciated.

**Minkness** · 09-01-17, 11:31 AM

Not super sure what it is, but I know it is NOT a rattle snake.

FWK · 09-01-17, 12:11 PM

Juvenile Western Yellowbelly Racer (Coluber constrictor mormon), harmless. The pattern will fade within a couple years as the animal turns a solid brown, grey, or olive color with a yellowish belly. These eat snakes, including venomous snakes, lizards, rodents, large insects, and just about anything else they can overpower and swallow whole.

jjhill001 · 09-01-17, 12:13 PM

Lyre Snake or a Red Racer. Hard to tell without better pics. Both are harmless species, let it go in the backyard or near some woods or something.

ph1958 · 09-01-17, 01:12 PM

Thanks for the quick help, much appreciated!

After studying pics I with @FWK Western Yellowbelly Racer

Re letting it go, did that right away but not in my yard. Wish we had not relocated it out of the immediate area.

Thanks again for your replies.

Scubadiver59 · 09-01-17, 04:45 PM

Thanks for letting it go!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ph1958

Thanks for the quick help, much appreciated!

After studying pics I with @FWK Western Yellowbelly Racer

Re letting it go, did that right away but not in my yard. Wish we had not relocated it out of the immediate area.

Thanks again for your replies.