Western Black-headed Snake (Tantilla planiceps)

Created: July 31st, 2022 - 11:33 AM
Last Modified: July 31st, 2022 - 11:33 AM Posted anonymously
Record 357399

Country: United States		State: California	County: Santa Clara County	Time: 2022-07-30 18:25:00
Qty: 1	Age: Sub-Adult	Sex: --	Method: Visual encounter	Habitat: ridgetop. transition between mixed oak woodland & grassland
Body Temperature: -----		Air Temperature: 75.00F	Ground Temperature: -----	Humidity: 50%
Sky Conditions: Partly Cloudy		Moon Phase: -----	Elevation: 1300.00ft	Barometric Pressure: -----

Notes

Snake was sunning mid-trail under oak trees, about 9-10 inches long. Panicked and fled when it realized it was being watched, before I could get a photo. The trail was packed dust but the area was rich with piles of rock and thick, loose, dry leaf litter into which the snake fled in the forest direction.

The range map suggests this is along, or perhaps slightly outside the southernmost border, of the Alameda County population, so I hope the observation helps refine the range map.