Tag Archives: California red-sided Garter Snake

Ken and Martha Fischer wrote, “Here is a California Red-sided Gartersnake, a real handsome fellow! We encountered him, or her, while hiking near the Hot Spot on The Sea Ranch.”

A nonvenomous snake of the coast, these Gartersnakes are usually found near water, particularly the sag ponds of the San Andreas fault.

Thanks to Ken for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

It's Latin name sounds pretty scary -Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis. California Red-sided Gartersnakes are only found on the California Coast from Humboldt County south to Monterey Bay. Peter Baye recently photographed one found along Tenmile River.

They have a toxin in their saliva which can be deadly to their prey. They are not considered harmful to humans but I wouldn't want to be bitten by one. Their bite could cause an adverse reaction. California Red-sided Gartersnakes eat a wide variety of creatures, including Banana Slugs. Gartersnakes are the only known creature that can eat Rough-skinned Newts.

They are great swimmers and will often retreat into the water if threatened. C'Anna Bergman Hill photographed this Red-sided Gartnersnake in a creek on the Stornetta Public Lands.

Thanks to Peter and C'Anna for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

I know not everyone likes snakes but we share the Mendonoma Coast with several species. Peter Baye recently photographed this CA red-sided Garter Snake on the Mendocino Coast. Its Latin name sounds like a Harry Potter spell - Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis.

This snake is a good swimmer as you will see in C'Anna Bergman-Hill's photo below. It has the ability to eat Pacific Newts, which are poisonous to most other predators. It has toxin in its saliva that it uses to capture its prey, but this snake is considered harmless to humans.

Thanks to Peter and C'Anna for allowing me to share their photos here!