A Longnosed Snake cruising around in the low light at the end of the day. These snakes are most often nocturnal, but may be found in the early morning or late afternoon, especially in the Spring. Against the chaotic, rocky backdrop of desert pavement between sandy plains, its shape breaks up, and spotting it can be difficult.
These snakes are commonly found in backyards, even a decent distance into the city, where they are usually misidentified as kingsnakes.
A close of of a Longnosed Snake’s namesake. These snakes are commonly mistaken as kingsnakes, even by (especially by!) the born and raised locals. There is a superficial resemblance, especially when they are in the purely black and white form. However, these red eyes, pointed snout, and red/orange bands are their own thing entirely. Longnosed Snakes are, compared to many other snake species, able to tolerate urbanization to a large degree. As a result, they can be found in backyards relatively far from the nearest native desert, often being reported by homeowners as the “first snake we’ve ever seen here”. They are harmless, of course, even being reluctant to bite at all.
