baby snake
Posted by Linda Raycraft on August 30, 2005
Q: This evening when I was in my backyard, I spotted a baby snake. It moved under the rocks very quickly, but this is what I saw. It was about 3-4 inches long and was very slender. It was sort of a pinkish color with no markings on it at all. The head looked narrow, but I didn't get that good of a look. Any ideas from this description. I live very close to a sandy pretty much dry river bed that has had a small stream that runs off from the san bernardino mountains, in san bernardino. I hope this helps and that you can help me.
Thanks,
Linda Raycraft
San Bernardino, CA
State: California
A: The Western Blind Snake (aka Western Threadsnake) seems a possibility in the southern 1/3 of California. Blind snakes are secretive burrowers — they spend much of their lives underground, and their eyes are reduced in size and functionality (their eyes are vestigial.) They eat a lot of termites and ants, along with other invertebrates. Blind snakes inhabit deserts, grasslands and rocky foothills with sandy soils suitable for burrowing.
A link with photos and range maps:
Solon Morse ( September 2, 2005)