Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Fish and Wildlife Service

Westphal, Mike. 1998. Alameda Whipsnake: The Fastest Snake in the West. Tideline Vol 18 No.2 1-3.

Alameda Whipsnake:
The Fastest Snake in the West
by Mike Westphal

Photo by Sheila Larsen - USFWS

A narrow footpath circles the crest of Mt. Diablo. The sunlight comes early to this high place and in May will warm the rocky soil around the manzanita bushes early in the morning, once the fog has burned away. If you were a snake - a fast snake, a snake that hunted lizards by day - you would live in a place like this, a place among the shrubbery where you could heat up and go. If you, on the other hand, up and go. If you, on the other hand, were a person and wanted to pay a call on the Alameda whipsnake, you might also come here.

A simple wooden rail follows the footpath on the downhill side. Walk slowly along the rail and watch the ground. Be quiet and alert. The Alameda whipsnake does not wait. If it sees you and doesn’t want to hang around, it will be gone before you even know what you’re looking at. If you are careful enough, you may see a rare and beautiful snake - a snake built for speed. It’s body is long (to six feet) and whiplike (hence the name). The neck is slender, topped with a darting head that houses the big eyes of a visual predator. In color, it is the deep, deep green traditional to British racecars; it is detailed on either side with a bold orange

Page 1 2 3 4 5

Last updated: May 27, 2008

SF Bay Complex Home