“What’s for lunch?” said the California King Snake (Lampropeltis getulus).
“Not me,” answered the Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis).
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.
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.
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.