California mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata)
The California mountain kingsnake is a non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. GBIF holds 557 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 3 states, most of all California (533), Oregon (14) and Washington (9). Its observation records peak in May.
The California mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake that is endemic to North America. It is a coral snake mimic, having a similar pattern consisting of red, black, and yellow on its body, but the snake is completely harmless. Seven subspecies are recognized, with five found in the U.S., including the nominotypical subspecies, and two in Mexico.
From Wikipedia: California mountain kingsnake, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the California mountain kingsnake poisonous or venomous?
No. The California mountain kingsnake is non-venomous: it belongs to the family Colubridae, not to the pit vipers or coral snakes, the only U.S. land snakes with medically dangerous venom. It may bite if handled; clean the bite like any small wound.
Often mistaken for
The California mountain kingsnake is non-venomous, but people often take it for coral snakes (both are recorded in 0 of its 3 states).
Which states have the California mountain kingsnake?
The California mountain kingsnake's U.S. record is concentrated: California alone holds 96% of licensed records. It is listed in 3 states in all; the next are Oregon (14) and Washington (9).
The count includes 7 records filed under the older name Lampropeltis zonata in California.
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 533 | 0.7% | 23rd of 46 |
| 2 | Oregon | 14 | 0.2% | 13th of 16 |
| 3 | Washington | 9 | 0.2% | 9th of 11 |
When is the California mountain kingsnake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the California mountain kingsnake run mostly April through September, peaking in May with 29% of them. Almost none are from December to February.
How recent are the California mountain kingsnake records?
The California mountain kingsnake record leans on older material: only 15% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1970. The oldest dated record is from 1870; the busiest year was 1996, with 22 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 2 | 0.4% |
| 1890s | 10 | 1.9% |
| 1900s | 14 | 2.7% |
| 1910s | 14 | 2.7% |
| 1920s | 16 | 3.1% |
| 1930s | 75 | 14.3% |
| 1940s | 36 | 6.9% |
| 1950s | 55 | 10.5% |
| 1960s | 37 | 7.1% |
| 1970s | 33 | 6.3% |
| 1980s | 33 | 6.3% |
| 1990s | 68 | 13.0% |
| 2000s | 25 | 4.8% |
| 2010s | 42 | 8.0% |
| 2020s | 64 | 12.2% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 17 counties where the California mountain kingsnake is most recorded, 16 are also top counties for the California kingsnake, more than for any other snake. Venomous species among its neighbors: the western rattlesnake.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| California kingsnake | 16 |
| Gopher snake | 15 |
| Western rattlesnake venomous | 15 |
| Coast nightsnake | 9 |
| Northern rubber boa | 8 |
| Striped racer | 8 |
| Two-striped garter snake | 8 |
| Glossy snake | 7 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other species of the genus Lampropeltis with profiles here: Eastern milksnake, California kingsnake, Prairie kingsnake, Eastern kingsnake, Speckled kingsnake, Mole kingsnake, Central plains milksnake and Eastern black kingsnake.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.