Does California have water moccasins?
Does California have water moccasins? Within North America, snakes in the genus Nerodia are native to the eastern and southeastern US, eastern Canada, and Mexico. Unlike the cottonmouth water moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus), which has not become established in California, water snakes are not poisonous and do not present a threat to human safety.
Do California lakes have snakes?
Native gartersnakes are the most common aquatic snakes in California. They are often observed swimming in creeks, ponds, and lakes, from the coast to high in the mountains. Many but not all native gartersnakes have a prominant, light-colored stripe that runs down their back.