La Ventana Stories

It is now winter, and most of the reptiles are underground so I am going to have to get creative. This column is about snakes in trees, and how to tell who’s who.

First of all, though unusual, any snake could find itself in a tree, even the least arboreal (arboreal means “lives in trees”). If you happen to see a snake in a tree, make sure to snap a photo because it may be a new behavior. Secondly, the “trees” around here are a bit wistful, but you know what I mean.

By far, the most common snakes to see in trees in this area are coachwhips. They are long, fast snakes that come in a variety of colors; around here, they are mostly black. I have witnessed coachwhips at the tops of trees, out on thin branches, hunting birds and much more, showing they are quite accomplished climbers. I have even seen them at the top of tall palm trees with no nearby vegetation.

Another type of arboreal snake in the area — although much rarer — is the Baja California Striped Whipsnake. Relatives of the coachwhip, these snakes are elusive and prefer wetter habitats, meaning they are mostly found in the mountains. They are black with yellow stripes, not to be confused with patch-nosed snakes, which can be black and cream-striped, and live throughout LV/ES. As for the patch-nosed snake, I have personally seen one in a tree, although they are not known to spend much time suspended in vegetation.

A few more snakes that you may see in trees include: Cape Gopher Snakes, which sometimes raid birds’ nests; Baja California Rat Snakes, which are quite rare but spend a good amount of time in trees; California Kingsnakes, which are known to hang out off the ground; and lyre snakes, who enjoy treetop life on occasion as well. chancestevens123@icloud.com

In the first part of this series (see The Ventana View 12, diciembre), we learned who makes underground tunnels. Today we will focus on which creatures live in them. To some extent, they are one in the same, as many animals who make tunnels also inhabit them. For example, rabbits, iguanas and ground squirrels certainly live in their burrows at first, but those creatures usually move out if the burrow feels too small, or maybe part of it caved in, or maybe it is too close to something dangerous. In many cases, burrows can flood during heavy rains.

Whatever the reason, burrows change ownership frequently. Some creatures live in their second-hand burrows, although many use them more like short-term rentals. For instance, whiptails (the blue-tailed lizards scurrying all around) are very active on sunny days, sometimes covering a lot of ground in their search for grubs and other leaf-litter creatures. Rather than returning all the way back to last night’s burrow, whiptails can pop into the nearest hole and spend the night there.

After a while, burrows start to connect to each other and, eventually, become part of the tunnel network, an intricate web where many fascinating creatures spend their time. Sand snakes “swim” through softer soils but, in harder ground, they spend essentially all their time in the tunnel network. Thread snakes also spend much of their time navigating these tunnels, as well as rosy boas, ground snakes, black-headed snakes, some small rodents and a great assortment of insects.

All this life under our feet, and we barely even know it exists! This fascinating world doesn’t require much help from us, although there is one crucial factor keeping the whole ecosystem strong. If we can allow this one little thing to remain in our yards, the animals and plants will live healthier, longer lives. This all-important magic serum is leaf litter. So go ahead and landscape areas that you actually use on your properties, but please leave leaf litter where you can, but especially under trees, cactuses and bushes. Leaving leaf litter in place also holds moisture, and this natural mulch greatly benefits the plants, as well as the animals.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good kite!

We are now approaching winter! Due to the recent cold weather here in LV/ES, most of the reptiles have retired into their winter abodes, like many of the human residents. One difference, however, is that the majority of the reptiles are underground. Today, we will dive deeper into the subterranean world where reptiles spend so much of their time, and shine a spotlight where the sun rarely reaches. The first questions we should ask ourselves are: where do all the tunnels come from, and who makes them? These questions have many answers, as there are a variety of interesting fauna giving rise to this underground kingdom.

Around here, many of the tunnels belong to the Desert Iguanas, not the big ones living on rooftops, but rather the smaller, sand-colored iguanas that prefer life on the ground. In the winter months, these characters are completely absent; come spring, however, they will emerge and become one of the most common lizards in the area!

Another set of important burrowers are the mammals, digging larger burrows. Once the squirrel, rabbit, mouse, skunk, etc. leave their burrows, those spaces become good hideouts for other creatures.

A third, often overlooked group of burrowers are the insects! Ant colonies create huge nests that become part of the tunnel web after the ants move on. Termites do this job as well, along with many other insects.

Now we know who made the tunnels, but who lives there? And what about the creatures that rarely leave the soil? To be continued next week! Chance Stevens chancestevens123@icloud.com

The Five-Toed Worm Lizard is a strange, unique and seldom found creature that spends most of its time underground. This species is native to the Baja California Peninsula. There is a good-sized population just outside of La Ventana, though not much research has been done on these two-legged lizards.

If you were to see one of these crazy creatures out in their natural habitat — which is Very Difficult — you would probably be confused. At first glance, you would think that it was a worm because it is pink and looks like it has segments, but then you would see its little two front legs and teeny tiny black eyes. Upon further inspection, you would see that it more closely resembles some sort of invertebrate over a lizard. 

Mexican Mole Lizards (another name for the same species) are not widespread, and seem to prefer loamy cactus forests. These lizards are so introverted that many people who live here their whole lives never see one! I was able to find one because of patience, perseverance and a very helpful shove in the right direction by my amazing friend, Prof. Bradford Hollingsworth, Curator of Herpetology at the San Diego Natural History Museum. 

Above the surface, mole lizards are a bit scattered and spend their time trying to dig back into the dirt; underground, however, they are fearsome bug hunters perfectly suited for their specialized life. If you do come across one of these enigmas of nature, photograph it and let me know where you found it, since it could be a new population! – chancestevens123@icloud.com

This week I am featuring La Ventana’s five most common snakes. There are around 15 snake species in our town, so many of the less common snakes are not covered in this column, but the snakes below account for about 80% of the questions I receive!

1. Baja California Coachwhip: These large, day-active snakes reach lengths of over six feet! They are extremely fast and come in an array of colors; around here, they are typically black. They are semi-arboreal, meaning they spend a good bit of time up in trees. They are completely harmless. Here are two photos of different colored coachwhips.

2. Cape Gopher Snake: Cape Gopher Snakes are large and beautiful snakes. They are particularly active during the shoulder seasons (spring and fall) and have incredible patterns. They are completely harmless.

3. Coast Night Snake: Coast Night Snakes are small, nocturnal snakes commonly found slithering around yards or underneath surface debris. These snakes are usually gray, and are commonly confused with rattlesnakes because they have vertical pupils. They, too, are harmless.

4. Western Patch-Nosed Snake: Western Patch-Nosed Snakes are quick, agile snakes that specialize in hunting whiptail lizards. These snakes have large eyes and crème and brown-ish black stripes. They spend a good bit of time with their heads down holes, as this is one of their best hunting methods. Once again, they are harmless.

5. Red Diamond Rattlesnake: Red Diamond Rattlesnakes are large, impressive and easily-identifiable snakes. They will usually support a large rattle, and often use it! These snakes are not really present in town anymore, but can be found just a bit up in the hills, including on mountain bike trails. They are dangerously venomous, and it is best to leave them their space.