I found this Longnosed Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei) near Phoenix many years ago. Interestingly, this species is most often mistaken for a kingsnake by locals, even (especially!) by those who identify strongly as “born and raised here.” It’s likely the case that the majority of “kingsnakes” seen by the typical Arizona resident are actually Longnosed Snakes. This one has a particularly high amount of the red-orange color that can help differentiate it from similar looking species, making it a bit easier.
Here’s a video we made that helps learn to identify them compared to kingsnakes: https://youtu.be/ysE-MLzu_9Y?si=9CPYtboddxjz50Rg
