Welcome to oaklandsnakes.com! I am David, a snake enthusiast living in Oakland, CA. Many people don't know that Oakland is in fact full of snakes! You just need to know where to find them - they can often be shy and elusive. Some California snake species are more common outside of the city limits, in different parts of Alameda County CA, but many types of snakes are indeed common in the more urban parts of Oakland. This guide is meant to help educate you about the beautiful snakes of Oakland, and to help you identify the most common snakes of Oakland, as well as the venomous snakes of Oakland that you should learn to recognize and avoid. If you want more detail, click here for my complete list of ALL snake species in Oakland. Remember the following:
- Most snakes of Oakland are harmless and don't want to encounter you
- Venomous snakes exist but are uncommon in Oakland, California
- Snakes eat rats and mice and are a valuable part of the California ecosystem
- Never kill a snake - if you leave a snake alone, it will leave you alone.
Common Snake Species in Oakland
![Oakland snake](gartersnake.jpg)
![Oakland snake](westernracer.jpg)
![Oakland snake](ringnecksnake.jpg)
![Oakland snake](coachwhip.jpg)
Venomous Snake Species in Oakland
![Oakland snake](mojaverattlesnake.jpg)
![Oakland snake](sidewinder.jpg)
If you're unsure, you can email me a photo of the snake at info@oaklandsnakes.com and I will email you back with the snake's species. If you found a snake skin, read my Found a Skin? page, and you can email me a photo of the skin, and I'll identify the snake for you. If you need professional Oakland snake removal help, click my Get Help page, or see the below website sponsor I found, who provides that service.
Will Snake Chase You?
If you think you are getting chased by this slithering reptile, you need to sit down, think for a while, and have a reality check. Some people with a creative mind claimed that the snake is chasing them while jogging or riding a bike. If you know about the snake's behavior and true nature, then this will definitely sound ludicrous.
Why is it Impossible for a Snake to Chase Humans?
Snakes will not chase humans simply because they don't see us as their prey. No snakes will attempt to catch a human since they think that we are a large predator. If you saw a snake moving towards your direction, this is not necessarily a snake that is chasing you. Snakes are not aggressive; as long as we give them enough space to retreat, they will instead choose to flee the scene rather than confront humans.
Perhaps, the only situation when a snake will attack a human is if you encounter a large constrictor snake such as the African Rock Python or the Burmese Python. Still, the foraging method of this snake is to lie and wait for their prey to come to them. They are so large that hunting actively may expend a lot of energy. So unless you accidentally set foot within the territory of these animals, they will not attack you.
How Can I Survive on My Snake Encounter?
If you want to ensure that you will not experience an attack from the snake, or at least you will survive, you need to remain alert when you are in the natural environment of the snake. You need to be very observant when you are going on a camping or hiking trip. You need to be aware of which places are likely to appear. Stay on the trail and avoid the tall grass. There is also a chance that the snake under the pile of leaves and the rocks. If you like rock climbing activities, you should also be cautious. There may be snakes that are hiding in the crannies and crevices of rocks.
Stay Calm- Avoid panicking. Keeping calm during this time will help you make the best decisions and may save your life. If you are already within reach of the snake's attack, avoid making any sudden movement. Never startle the animal since it may be already in an agitated state.
Walk Away- The best way to survive an attack from the snake is not to engage and stay away from it. If you give them space, the snake will likely escape once it sees you.
For those who have been bitten by the snake, be sure to seek immediate help, especially if you do not know how to determine if a venomous or non-venomous snake causes it. Do not make unnecessary movement since it can encourage the venom to move to your blood vessel. Any movement will encourage the venom to enter your blood plasma that will activate the effect of the venom.
Remember, the term is not poisonous snakes of Oakland, it's venomous snakes of Oakland. Poison is generally something you eat, and venom is injected into you. That said, dangerous snakes are very rare in Oakland. The few venomous snakes of Alameda County are rarely seen. But they are commonly misidentified, so learn about all the snake species of Oakland in order to correctly identify them. These snakes are usually also found in the surrounding towns of Oakland, Berkeley, Hayward, Livermore, Pleasanton, San Leandro, Dublin, Castro Valley, Union City, Newark, Emeryville, Albany, Piedmont, San Lorenzo, Sunol, Cherryland, Ashland, Fairview and the surrounding areas.
Read our article about:
How Do Snakes Drink Water?
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