Identification: Body long and slender, head large and distinct from neck. Color usually black or dark brown with three yellow or greenish-yellow stripes running the length of the body, often small red bars or blotches on side of the body. Body scutes strongly keeled with 19 rows at mid-body. Adult length 494 to 1295mm.

Habits: Lives in a wide variety of environments including in cities, but is most abundant near marshes, small lakes, rivers, and ponds, and fairly humid forests. Emerge from hibernation in spring.

Feeding: Major prey are amphibians and earthworms, also take intertidal and fresh-water fishes, leeches, and small birds.

Breeding: Mating usually occurs in the spring, occasionally in the fall. Snake balls are often formed of several males with one female. The females are live-bearing, producing two to 85 young in mid to late summer.

References: Gregory, Patrick T. and Campbell, R. Wayne. 1996. The Reptiles of British Columbia. Royal British Columbia Museum Handbook. Victoria, B.C.

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