Pet Forum

Every since the story came out about the mom that found a king snake in baby bed, everyone is wondering if california king snakes are poisonous. I was pretty sure that king snakes are not positive, but I wanted to read up on the california version to make sure. I am happy to report that CALIFORNIA KINGSNAKES ARE NOT POISONOUS! I know that a lot of folks were scred and freaked out when they heard about this snake in a baby crib, so I just wanted to clear the air. They are actually constrictors, so king snakes eat by squeezing their prey, not by injecting toxins into them. Here are some more details:

The common Kingsnake is a nonvenomous member of the “harmless” Colubrid family which also includes such common snakes as Garter snakes, Gopher snakes, and Whip snakes. Adults may measure 30-85 inches in length, although 3 to 4 feet is the size more commonly seen. Common Kingsnakes vary greatly in color and pattern. In the California Kingsnake (L. g. californiae), the most typical pattern is black or brown bands alternating with white or cream bands which do not go all the way around the body. The California Kingsnake may, however, be found with stripes of yellow or white on a brown or black background, partially striped and partially banded with the pattern depending upon where the snake was found, and many so-called aberrants which fit into no particular pattern class. Kingsnakes generally mate from March through June. The female lays a clutch of from 4-20 eggs between May and August. Incubation is about 60 days but varies from 47 to 81 days. Hatchlings are about 8 to 13 inches in length and reach sexual maturity in about 4 years. After the female lays her eggs, she will leave them and show no more interest nor any maternal feelings toward the young.