FWIW... "king snake" refers generically to anything in the genus Lampropeltis (i.e., Arizona mountain king snakes (Lampropeltis pyromelana), desert king snakes (Lampropeltis getula splendida), prairie king snakes (Lampropeltis calligaster), etc.). The genus Lampropeltis also includes milk snakes (various forms of Lampropeltis triangulum). "Gopher snake" usually refers to all of the western US forms of Pituophis catenifer except the "bull snake", Pituophis catenifer sayi, which doesn't occur in Arizona. This snake is a Sonoran gopher snake, Pituophis catenifer affinis. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming... Patrick Alexander

Marcia, Please help me find out what kind of snake I came across today. While I was at the local dog park (near Orlando) I came across a yellow with black stripes snake. It looked to be between 3.5-4 feet long and did not appear at first glance (that was all I gave it out of fear) to be shiny. I was about 3 feet from it and didn't know it until my dog almost stepped on it. She obviously didn't see it either. The snake seemed a pit peeved about the whole thing but it decided not to attack and to slowly slither towards ME to get away from my dog. Needless to say, I took off in a different direction real quick and hollered for my dog to follow. I am not like you or others on this site. I am not a fan of snakes and am extremely afraid of them. Although, I don't mind the black racers that seem to have taken up permanent residence in MY back yard and they love to procreate often (or so it seems). I have seen a lot less field rats since the racers moved in and that makes me very happy. Anyway, can you help me figure out what this snake was? I have spent hours and hours online tonight trying to find it and just can't seem to find anything that looks like it. I am guessing that it is not dangerous to me or my dogs??? I am scared to take my dogs back through those woods that they so dearly love. As soon as I told them, "No more woods until the snakes are gone again," they "told" me to find it if it was dangerous or not and if it isn't that they want to go back again. So that is mostly why I am asking you for your help. We all love the walks but I am afraid of the snakes. Please help me feel safer about going back. Thanks in advance for your help.

Black Rat Snake with most of its juvenile pattern still present.

It is with certainty a baby Rat Snake. Babies of all subspecies of the Rat Snake (Yellow, Black, Gray, Everglades, Texas and maybe others) all look like that. Suspiciously like a baby Copperhead, a mimicry that is probably supposed to protect them until they get big enough to look after themselves, but does them no good with ignorant humans, unfortunately. Alex Netherton Blue Ridge Discovery