California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata)

California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata)



General Distribution
The California mountain kingsnake is an uncommon resident occurring throughout the length of the Sierra and Cascades and locally in the Coast Range the entire length of the state. Also found in the San Bernardino, San Gabriel, and San Jacinto Mts. Elevational range from near sea level coastally to 2450 m (8036 ft), or above, in the southern mountains.
Habitat Requirements
Most common in the vicinity of rocks or boulders near streams or lake shores. May also utilize rotting logs and seek cover under dense shrubs. Occurs in a variety of habitats including valley-foothill hardwood, and hardwood-conifer, mixed and montane chaparral, valley-foothill riparian, coniferous forests, and wet meadows.
Reproduction
Mating occurs from March to May. Clutch size is thought to be 4-12, but clutches of 5-6 appear most common. Hatching occurs from late June to early October.
Daily/Seasonal Activity
Diurnal and crepuscular activity mid-March to mid-October but with period of activity more restricted at higher elevations. Probably some nocturnal activity during the warmest periods (Stebbins 1954). At higher elevations may migrate to and from winter hibernacula which probably occur in boulder areas.
Diet and Foraging
Diet includes lizards, smaller snakes, nestling birds and bird eggs, and small mammals (Fitch 1936, Petrides 1941, Cunningham 1959).
Territoriality/Home Range
Unknown. Aggressive defense of sources has not been observed in the wild.
Predator-Prey Relations
Adults and young are probably taken by predatory birds such as hawks and occasionally owls. Adults, young, and egg clutches may be taken by mammals such as skunks and raccoons.
Literature Cited
Cunningham, J. D. 1959. Reproduction and food of some California snakes. Herpetologica 15:17-19.
Fitch, H. S. 1936. Amphibians and reptiles of the Rogue River Basin,Oregon. Am. Midl. Nat. 17:634-652.
Hayes, M. P. 1975. The taxonomy and evolution of Lampropeltis zonata. M. A. Thesis, California State Univ., Chico.
Klauber, L. M. 1943. The coral kingsnakes of the Pacific Coast. Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 10:75-82.
Newton, M. S., and R. Smith. 1975. The snake that lost its habitat. Nat. Hist. 84:72-77. Petrides, G. A. 1941. The coral king snake: a predator on the russet-backed thrush. Yosemite Nat. Notes 20:36.
Stebbins, R. C. 1954. Amphibians and reptiles of western North America. McGraw-Hill, New York. 536pp.
Zweifel, R. G. 1974. Lampropeltis zonata. Cat. Am. Amphibians and Reptiles 174.

 
Information gathered from California DFG - California Interagency Wildlife Task Group