Bliss Is… Not Being Lunch

“What’s for lunch?” said the California King Snake (Lampropeltis getulus).

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“Not me,” answered the Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis).

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Well, good luck. California Kings Snakes do not only like lizards, rodents and birds, they also do not mind having a Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) now and then; it’s good that they are immune to the toxins of venomous snakes.

2 thoughts on “Bliss Is… Not Being Lunch”

  1. Who’s holding the snake? It’s quite beautiful. Wonder what the kitkats would think about one of those if they crossed paths. When I find a non-venomous snake, I won’t kill it. Live & let live.

  2. First the snake was held by a young boy, then I was allowed to hold it too. After having tickled a sea cucumber under the chin in La Jolla, this was my second most exotic encounter with the resident wildlife in SoCal.

    I met this glorious specimen of snakes at the Ranger’s Lodge in Eaton Canyon, a lovely State Wildlife Park about 20 minutes away from home. After a long hike up a fabulous canyon I wanted to check in the lodge the names of some plants I had taken photos of – and there was this lovely lady sitting in a corner, surrounded by some boys, to whom she gave a lecture on snakes and other animals.

    Well, I did not quite fit the age profile, but so what? I joined the little group and learned a lot. I even have some photos of me with Madame Lampropeltis getulus (yes, the snake was a female) to send home to the family. The reaction there will probably be: “What has she been up to now? She sure is crazy, that one.”

    Mind you, had it been a rattler, I would have been far less adventurous.

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