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gambolin man
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Today, in a local park, I nearly stepped on a small snake. I have never seen this particular snake - can anyone help me identify it? I can't find any Google images of it.
- 6 inches long, very slender (probably a baby)
- jet black
- bright orange ring around neck
- bright orange underside stripe
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Gambolin' Man
http://gambolinman.blogspot.com
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Total Posts: 122 | Joined Feb. 2006 | Posted on: 6:26 pm on Mar. 19, 2009 | IP
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gambolin man
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I'm pretty sure the little guy was a baby ringneck snake. I found this image on the net and it resembles pretty much what I saw.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/49/143471318_bf927498e1.jpg
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Gambolin' Man
http://gambolinman.blogspot.com
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Total Posts: 122 | Joined Feb. 2006 | Posted on: 11:58 am on Mar. 21, 2009 | IP
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gambolin man
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Funny, just yesterday I came across another baby ringnecked snake. Had not seen one EVER while hiking, and now two back to back sightings. This has happened with other animals recently after not having ever seen one in the Bay Area - fox, Great Horned Owl, kingsnake, and bald eagle sightings back to back. Anyone else have a similar experience of seeing the same animal twice within a short time period after never before (or very rarely) spotting the animal?
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Gambolin' Man
http://gambolinman.blogspot.com
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Total Posts: 122 | Joined Feb. 2006 | Posted on: 9:29 am on Mar. 28, 2009 | IP
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4wheelbob
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Hey, GM! The coloring of Pacific Ring Neck snakes can vary from a light, dusky brown to very dark. The ring and, if present, a bright orange underbelly would be the best identifiers. At 6", it was probably an adult.
I see them on the Mitchell Cyn Trail at Mt Diablo a lot this time of year, scurrying under the fresh Miner's Lettuce. I handled my first Gopher Snake of the season at Brushy Peak Saturday - a little guy, maybe 14" but clearly sluggish as if just out of hibernation. Quite a pleasant attitude for a gopher snake...
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4wheelbob
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Total Posts: 67 | Joined July 2006 | Posted on: 8:23 am on April 1, 2009 | IP
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gambolin man
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Good to hear from you, 4-Wheelin' Bob! Hmmm - at 6 inches you're calling the snake an adult? Or did you mean 6 ft.? Great to be out in the beautiful outdoors this time of year, huh!
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Gambolin' Man
http://gambolinman.blogspot.com
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Total Posts: 122 | Joined Feb. 2006 | Posted on: 1:58 pm on April 1, 2009 | IP
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4wheelbob
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Yeah, they're small. A 12" ring necked snake is a big one. Fitting in all the wildflower hikes I want to do right now is troubling! Shadow Cliffs aturday morning, perhaps followed by Mitchell Cyn to Deer Flat in the PM, then Mission Peak on Sunday. Tis the season for ambitious weekends!
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4wheelbob
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Total Posts: 67 | Joined July 2006 | Posted on: 9:49 am on April 2, 2009 | IP
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gambolin man
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Bob, it would be wonderful to meet up with you on the trail one of these days! Tom
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Gambolin' Man
http://gambolinman.blogspot.com
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Total Posts: 122 | Joined Feb. 2006 | Posted on: 6:46 pm on April 2, 2009 | IP
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Bay Area Hiker Discussion Board
Snake - Help Me Identify It!
