Wild Los Angeles

I’ve had another excuse to travel to the Best Coast! If you’ve never watched my episode on the Conejo Valley, it’s definitely worth checking out. But the last time I was out here, it was during winter. Now, it’s spring. And you know what that means: snakes.

I post a lot of bird content, but thats partially because birds are around all year long in a wide variety. For my money, the wildlife rankings go:

• Reptiles

• Mammals

• Birds

I’ve always been a snake-head. I can still remember the first Eastern Diamondback my grandfather showed me on a dirt road in Southern Georgia. New York City has no native venomous snakes (which is not to say I won’t encounter one— I’ve had to rescue a Ball Python from Van Cortlandt Park), so any chance I’m always going to jump at the chance to spend some time observing North American Pit Vipers. While in South Florida, I spend a little time with the Florida Cottonmouth, but it’s been almost four years since I’ve seen one! Day one, alas, left me a little short of the goal.

BUT ALL IS NOT LOST! I actually met the King of California’s serpents: the aptly named California King Snake. These regal serpents are know to dine on the other snakes in the region, including the venomous Southern Pacific Rattlesnake. Very cool experience.