Western shovel-nosed snake (Sonora occipitalis)
The western shovel-nosed snake is a non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. GBIF holds 1,787 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 3 states, most of all California (1,482), Arizona (195) and Nevada (109). Its observation records peak in May.
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Is the western shovel-nosed snake poisonous or venomous?
No. The western shovel-nosed snake 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.
Which states have the western shovel-nosed snake?
The western shovel-nosed snake's U.S. record is concentrated: California alone holds 83% of licensed records. It is listed in 3 states in all; the next are Arizona (195) and Nevada (109).
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 1,482 | 2.0% | 11th of 46 |
| 2 | Arizona | 195 | 0.9% | 27th of 60 |
| 3 | Nevada | 109 | 2.7% | 11th of 27 |
When is the western shovel-nosed snake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the western shovel-nosed snake run mostly March through September, peaking in May with 44% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 2% of them.
Where the western shovel-nosed snake is recorded in each state
California
California holds 1,482 licensed records, the 11th most recorded of 46 snakes listed there. Its observation records in California run mostly March through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from San Bernardino County, Riverside County and San Diego County. Next come Imperial County (154) and Inyo County (68).
Arizona
Arizona holds 195 licensed records, the 27th most recorded of 60 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Arizona come from Pinal County, Maricopa County and Yuma County. Next come La Paz County (11) and Pima County (4).
Nevada
Nevada holds 109 licensed records, the 11th most recorded of 27 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Nevada come from Nye County, Clark County and Esmeralda County.
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Bernardino County | California | 443 | 24.8% |
| 2 | Riverside County | California | 400 | 22.4% |
| 3 | San Diego County | California | 357 | 20.0% |
| 4 | Imperial County | California | 154 | 8.6% |
| 5 | Nye County | Nevada | 81 | 4.5% |
| 6 | Pinal County | Arizona | 69 | 3.9% |
| 7 | Inyo County | California | 68 | 3.8% |
| 8 | Maricopa County | Arizona | 67 | 3.7% |
| 9 | Kern County | California | 50 | 2.8% |
| 10 | Yuma County | Arizona | 40 | 2.2% |
| 11 | Clark County | Nevada | 26 | 1.5% |
| 12 | La Paz County | Arizona | 11 | 0.6% |
| 13 | Los Angeles County | California | 8 | 0.4% |
| 14 | Pima County | Arizona | 4 | 0.2% |
| 15 | Mohave County | Arizona | 4 | 0.2% |
How recent are the western shovel-nosed snake records?
The western shovel-nosed snake record leans on older material: only 6% of dated U.S. records come from 2016–2025, and the median record is from 1962. The oldest dated record is from 1894; the busiest year was 1957, with 94 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 2 | 0.1% |
| 1900s | 3 | 0.2% |
| 1910s | 22 | 1.3% |
| 1920s | 16 | 0.9% |
| 1930s | 266 | 15.5% |
| 1940s | 171 | 10.0% |
| 1950s | 324 | 18.9% |
| 1960s | 307 | 17.9% |
| 1970s | 170 | 9.9% |
| 1980s | 158 | 9.2% |
| 1990s | 19 | 1.1% |
| 2000s | 72 | 4.2% |
| 2010s | 144 | 8.4% |
| 2020s | 40 | 2.3% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 18 counties where the western shovel-nosed snake is most recorded, 18 are also top counties for each of the first three snakes in the table below; no other snake shares more. Venomous species among its neighbors: the sidewinder.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| California kingsnake | 18 |
| Gopher snake | 18 |
| Long-nosed snake | 18 |
| Coachwhip | 16 |
| Sidewinder venomous | 16 |
| Western patch-nosed snake | 16 |
| Desert nightsnake | 15 |
| Glossy snake | 15 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other members of the family Colubridae with profiles here: Western terrestrial garter snake, Common garter snake, Gopher snake, Ring-necked snake, Northern water snake and Eastern racer.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.