What Types of Snakes Are Common in San Diego County?
There are four species of rattlesnakes found in San Diego County. The most common species is the Southern Pacific rattlesnake, which can be found in prairie or sage scrub areas as well as housing developments, parks, and even the beach. The Red Diamond rattlesnake is the largest species in the county. Unlike the Southern Pacific, they prefer to live away from developed areas. However, as communities spread into open land, sightings are becoming more common. Southwestern Speckled rattlesnakes are very shy and avoid populated areas, making them the least common species to be seen in Southern California. Found only in the desert, the Colorado Desert Sidewinder is the smallest species in the area. These snakes have not been found living within our immediate area, but keep an eye out for them when traveling to the desert. We have non-poisonous snakes as well. The Pacific Gopher snake and the common Bull snake have markings that are similar to a rattlesnake. These rattlesnake-like markings a
