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California Kingsnake

Lampropeltis californiae

Reptile · family Colubridae · order Squamata

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

California Kingsnake
Photo: Calibas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
7 states[3]

The California Kingsnake is a reptile in the family Colubridae[4]. It is native to seven western states and is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[3][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the California Kingsnake G5 (Secure) worldwide and N5 (Secure) in the United States[2][5]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[6]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe also gives each state its own rank, shown in the table on this page[7].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[5] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[6] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[8] 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where California Kingsnake lives

NatureServe lists the California Kingsnake as native in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Utah[3]. These lists show where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see one there. On GBIF, the states with the most observation records are California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Oregon[9]. Those counts follow how much people look and report, not how many snakes live there[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: native, state rank S3ORNevada: native, state rank S4NVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S3UTColorado: native, state rank S1CONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: native, state rank S4AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S2NMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[7].
Show state ranks (7 states)
StateRankMeaning
ArizonaS4Apparently Secure
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
ColoradoS1Critically Imperiled
NevadaS4Apparently Secure
New MexicoS2Imperiled
OregonS3Vulnerable
UtahS3Vulnerable

Habitat

This snake lives mostly on the ground and is found in many kinds of places[10]. NatureServe records forest and woodland, shrubland and chaparral, savanna, grassland, old fields, desert, sand and dunes, bare rock and scree, cropland and hedgerows, herbaceous wetland and riparian areas[11]. When it is inactive, it rests in crevices or burrows, or under rocks, logs, stumps and plants[10].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Diet

NatureServe records adult food habits as carnivore, which means it eats other animals[12]. The facts on this page do not give its size, its diet in detail or its lifespan. NatureServe estimates the global adult population at 100,000 to more than 1,000,000 individuals[8]. Whether the population is rising or falling is unknown. NatureServe notes it has probably been fairly stable or slowly declining[13].

Trait Value
Food habits[12] Carnivore
Migration[14] non-migrant

When to look for it

NatureServe lists the California Kingsnake as a non-migrant, though this can differ between populations[14]. GBIF observation records are highest in April, May and June[15]. They are lowest in December and January[15]. These records show when people look and report, not how many snakes there are[15].

January: 131 recordsJanFebruary: 257 recordsFebMarch: 894 recordsMarApril: 1,805 recordsAprMay: 2,850 recordsMayJune: 2,177 recordsJunJuly: 1,351 recordsJulAugust: 798 recordsAugSeptember: 962 recordsSepOctober: 477 recordsOctNovember: 207 recordsNovDecember: 78 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[15].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January131
February257
March894
April1,805
May2,850
June2,177
July1,351
August798
September962
October477
November207
December78

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record California Kingsnake as present in 6 park units[16]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Oregon[9]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the California Kingsnake endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally and N5 (Secure) in the United States[2][5].
Where does the California Kingsnake live?
NatureServe lists it as native in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Utah[3].
What does the California Kingsnake eat?
NatureServe records adult food habits as carnivore, so it eats other animals[12].
When is the California Kingsnake seen most often?
GBIF observation records are highest in April, May and June[15]. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[15].
What habitats does the California Kingsnake use?
It uses a wide range of habitats, including forest, shrubland, grassland, desert and farmland[10][11].

Facts and sources

  1. California Kingsnake is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for California Kingsnake: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists California Kingsnake as native in 7 US states and territories: Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah. NatureServe Explorer
  4. California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) is a reptile in the family Colubridae, order Squamata. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  6. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe state ranks for California Kingsnake (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  9. US states with the most GBIF observation records of California Kingsnake: California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Oregon. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  10. NatureServe notes on habitat for California Kingsnake. NatureServe Explorer
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for California Kingsnake: Forest/woodland, Shrubland/chaparral, Savanna, Grassland/herbaceous, Old field, Desert, Sand/dune, Bare rock/talus/scree, Cropland/hedgerow, Herbaceous wetland, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on trend for California Kingsnake. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe migration category for California Kingsnake: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  15. GBIF observation records of California Kingsnake in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  16. NPSpecies park lists recording California Kingsnake as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Calibas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.