Wildlife of Henry W. Coe State Park
Coast Horned Lizard · Western Fence Lizard · California Mountain Kingsnake · Common Kingsnake · Gopher Snake · Ringneck Snake · Western Aquatic (?) Garter Snake · Western Rattlesnake · Western Pond Turtle · California Newt · Yellow-legged Frog · Fish nibbling feet
Western Aquatic (?) Garter Snake
Thamnophis (couchii?)
Poised at edge of pool in the Narrows of the
East Fork Coyote Creek.
May 1 ,1978.
These snakes are the most commonly seen in the park.
During the spring and summer, you can often see one along every
dozen feet of creekside.
Since the similar Western Terrestrial Garter Snake is also
sometimes aquatic (as are other snakes), I'm not at all sure
these photos are of the Western Aquatic. Stebbins (A Field
Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians) is not at all
clear in distinguishing the two; both have many subspecies
which overlap each other in appearance. He does note that
"When frightened, terrestrial forms tend to seek shelter in dense
plant growth or other cover on land, and aquatic forms usually
enter water." Since retreating to water was the behavior of
these individuals, I've tentatively called them Western Aquatic.
Basking on streamside rocks near the Little Fork of Coyote Creek.
May 3, 1978.
Juvenile in pool of the South Fork of Orestimba
Creek, near the mouth of Robinson Creek.
April 29, 1993.
Garter snakes are named for the long, garter-like stripe.
They are often mistakenly called "garden" snakes.
Photographs copyright Ó by Lee Dittmann.
Wildlife of Henry Co
Henry W. Coe State Park, California
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