Scientific name: Lampropeltis zonata Common name: California Mountain Kingsnake Size: 20-40 in Distinguishing characters: These native Wrightwood snakes are non-venomous and are a colorful species with black, white and red crossbands encircling body and tail; smooth, glistening scales; snout and eyes generally black.

The Kingsnake derives its name from its habit of eating other snakes, and is most famous for eating rattlesnakes, copperheads and coral snakes. But it also feeds on other snakes, lizards, birds and their eggs, small mammals, turtles and frogs. It is usually active in the morning and later afternoon but under very hot conditions will be active at night. Although regarded as a gentle snake, when threatened the Kingsnake hisses, strikes and vibrates its tail. When attacked it will roll into a ball with its head in the center, smearing its attackers with musk and feces. The Kingsnake locates and identifies rattlesnakes at night with its sense of smell. It immediately bites and surrounds its victim with suffocating coils, as a Boa Constrictor would do. Since it is immune to the poison of venomous snakes, the Kingsnake is little concerned with being bitten. When the rattlesnake is well exhausted, the Kingsnake simply swallows it whole, while still alive. Kingsnakes mate from March through June. The female lays a clutch of 4 to 20 eggs from May to August. The incubation period varies between 47 and 81 days. Hatchlings are 8 to 13 inches in length and reach maturity in 3 to 4 years. Once the female lays eggs, she shows no more interest in the young.

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