Snake in my pool
Posted by Jennifer Triano on August 31, 2005
Q: I found a snake in my pool. It is about 1' long. It has red and grey stripes on the tope from head to tail and black and white stripes on the belly going across. Can you please tell me what kind of snake this is. I can not seem to find any that look like it on the internet. Thanks in advance.
Jenn
Habitat: suburban/yard
State: California
Habitat: suburban/yard
A: This is a Sharp-tailed snake. Sharp-tailed snakes are secretive, harmless predators of slugs and salamanders. They prefer moist environments — from forests to grasslands, often near streams — and are most active on the surface following rain when the ground is wet (perhaps because their preferred prey likewise depends on moisture.) The animal you found was an adult — they rarely get longer than 12" or so. You can see additional images at:
Solon Morse ( September 2, 2005)