Beautiful Baby California Mountain Kingsnake

A few days ago, I found this gorgeous hatchling under a log while hunting for mushrooms. I knew that Steve would go crazy if he saw this lovely guy, so I gently captured him and took him home for a visit. As I suspected, Steve was enchanted!

There are about 45 species of Kingsnakes, which also include Milksnakes. They come in a large number of colors from solid black to almost white, with a dizzying variety of patterns. In fact, some species, such as this one, mimic the highly venomous coral snake, which only lives in the southern States. (NEVER approach a snake unless you are SURE it's harmless!) Kingsnakes are among the most popular pet snakes due to their docile, friendly dispositions and ease of care. In the wild, they are secretive, usually moving about during the day, and eat rodents, reptiles and birds.

If you would like to know more about Kingsnakes, Wiki has a nice page here: Wiki: Kingsnake