brianhindsakafundad's Identifications

This "South Coast Garter Snake" (Thamnophis sirtalis ssp.) was handled as part of my master's thesis research, which is permitted by CDFW. The snake was stretched out on top of mud from a dried puddle, then retreated into a large pile of downed Arundo donax (mud and Arundo pile included with snake pictures). The snake was roughly equidistant (about 4 meters) from three water sources: two small seasonal pools and a seasonal stream. Conditions were sunny, 20°C, with a slight breeze. Specific data on the location will be obscured to protect this sensitive population and the privacy of associated landowners/organizations, but I found the individual in a marshy wetland in the immediate vicinity of the Santa Clara River.