I love all those little guys. Sometimes they get into my garage and get tangled in cat hair. They recover well when washed clean and released. The orangey snake, Calistoga, could be the sharp-tailed snake (see link). I have those in my yard. I always worry about using Sluggo in my garden since I can't find absolute confirmation that it doesn't harm the herpes. I have found that the new Sluggo Plus is not safe, the company does not even claim it is safe for wildlife, like they claim for Sluggo. Here is a link that might be useful: Bay Area Snakes

Deepest sympathy to anyone who has to deal with digging and burrowing varmints. When I lived in Bellflower, the neighborhood was infested with gophers. I did a little research and found that the recommended method of getting rid of them pretty labor intensive and required buying special equipment I didn't want to pay for. I could really understand Bill Murray's motivation in "Caddyshack." I've put a lot of rocks into a couple of tiny spaces I'm using as gardens here in Dana Point. Happy to report I've found two Pacific salamanders camped out under paving stones. For some reason, they seem to love flat manmade rocks with a little moisture beneath or between them. It's been so long since I've seen any live amphibians in a natural setting. Even the toads in Texas seemed to have disappeared during the amphibian die-off a few years ago. These salamanders are really neat little critters, easy to mistake for earthworms.

Hi Lonnie; The small black or brown ones near the house are Ground Skinks. You usually find them under boards or rocks. They don't like to come out much, and people often mistake them for salamanders. Of course, the ones near the house could be something other than a Skink. I can't say. The blue tailed folks are indeed Skinks, of the Five Lined complex. The females and young have five white racing stripes, and a blue tail. Adult males are a rather drab brown or olove color, with red heads. There are three species, the Southeastern Five Lined, the Five Lined and the Broadhead. Broadheads are the largest, getting up to around 1 foot nose to tail, and are called the "Red Headed Scorpion (all Skinks get called Scorpions), and are said to be venomous. They are not, of course. I have been bitten by many of them - you have to be holding them to get bitten, as they are quick to run away. Only the Great Plains Skink is larger. Not knowing what state you live in, it is hard to talk about what might be living near you. Reptiles and amphibians can often be identified only by locality. Here is a link that might be useful: Eastern Snakes Message Board

That's ironic, I've found several Eastern Narrow-mouthed toads lately at a spot that Warren showed me. Never found one until now, even though I've always lived in their range. Field guide says they're secretive and not commonly found. Must be a good year for them. Cool amphibian.