Watch a Bold Snake Casually Swim Down a Flooded California Street

Written by Kirstin Harrington
Updated: October 24, 2023
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One of the states in North America that can experience extreme droughts is California. Though the Golden State is known for beautiful landscapes such as Big Sur, the star-studded Walk of Fame, and plenty of sunshine, it still needs plenty of rain.

During the winter of 2023, California saw quite a bit of rain. While this initially sounds like a good thing, too much rain can cause just as many issues as not enough of it.

Witness a Snake Swimming Down the Street in the Video Below!

Certain portions of the city of Petaluma are susceptible to flooding after heavy rains because waters can flood parking garages, footbridges, viaducts, and basements in addition to covering low-lying roads. 

The City has policies in place to control a flood emergency and regulate the floodplain. A video uploaded to YouTube is gaining traction after a resident filmed something peculiar in the flood waters! 

Watch This Snake Swim Down a Flooded Street!

Cottonmouths are considered to be one of the few semi-aquatics snakes in the world.

Cottonmouths are considered to be one of the few semi-aquatic venomous snakes in the world.

©jo Crebbin/Shutterstock.com

Crissy Pascual is an Argus-Courier photographer and captured a large California kingsnake slithering along Petaluma Boulevard North. Don Frances posted a stunning photo of the snake in the water on Twitter. 

The majority of California, surrounding states, and northern Mexico are home to California kingsnakes. They will survive in a variety of habitats, including wetlands, meadows, forests, shrubs, and deserts.

One thing that’s unique about this situation in Petaluma is that California kingsnakes aren’t seen too often during winter months. These snakes brumate during the winter by hiding in cracks or behind rocks, lumber, or another shelter.

Brumation is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as, “To be in a lethargic state, somewhat analogous to hibernation but not the same.” 

California Kingsnake Facts

A California mountain kingsnake crawling over the skull of a cow

California kingsnakes are available in many colors, the most common being alternating dark and light bands.

©Ann May Snz/Shutterstock.com

In contrast to ambush hunters, California kingsnakes are active. They don’t wait for their next food to come to them; instead, they go in pursuit of food. Despite being mostly terrestrial, they can swim and climb trees

Known kingsnake predators include skunks, foxes, hawks, and other raptors. This species of snake will hiss, shake its tails, and curl up into a ball for protection when they feel intimidated.

The California kingsnake is one of the most well-liked snakes kept in captivity because of how easy it is to care for them and the variety of colors they come in. These snakes typically have yellowish-white streaks running across their deep brown or black bodies. 

The moniker “king” relates to their proclivity to hunt and consume other snakes, notably dangerous rattlesnakes that are often native to their natural environment. Although California kingsnakes are generally diurnal, they may start to spend more time at night during especially hot conditions. 

Although they are regarded as non-lethal to people, this species is known to bite when handled and will expel musk and feces from its cloaca. You’ll find these slithering serpents reproducing in the springtime. 

They will usually lay between five and 12 eggs in what’s called a clutch. While there’s no way of knowing, we hope the snake in this video found dry land and a log to hide under for the remainder of winter! 

How Large Does The California Kingsnake Get?

A California kingsnake in a defensive position is ready to attack

California kingsnakes are non-venomous and constrict their prey to death.

©MattiaATH/Shutterstock.com

Wild California kingsnakes are usually found at lengths of 2.5 to 3.5 feet, with the potential for larger sizes. In some cases, like on Isla Ángel de la Guarda in Baja California, and in Mexico, they have been recorded growing up to 78 inches.

Despite their potential to grow into a pretty good-sized snake, the California kingsnakes don’t have the appearance of being bulky or heavy, making them seem smaller than they actually are.

Furthermore, a majority of these snakes and their various subspecies typically measure between three to four feet in length. Moreover, in 2021, conservation workers in Southern California came across a California kingsnake with an estimated length of a remarkable 7 feet!

Is It Normal For Snakes To Swim?

Northern watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) swimming underwater along hiking trail at Torrance Barrens during Summer

Most species of snakes are able to swim while some absolutely can’t.

©Chris Dale/Shutterstock.com

The majority of snake species are capable swimmers, while some cannot swim at all. You can find these creatures in various aquatic environments such as lakes, rivers, and oceans, where they can also dive and swim underwater, albeit for short durations.

Eventually, though, they must resurface to breathe.

It’s worth noting that most snakes can swim on the water’s surface. However, venomous water snakes possess the unique ability to remain afloat even when motionless.

In contrast, non-venomous snakes usually sink beneath the surface when stationary, leaving only their heads visible above the waterline in such instances.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Creeping Things/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Kirstin is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering animals, news topics, fun places, and helpful tips. Kirstin has been writing on a variety of topics for over five years. She has her real estate license, along with an associates degree in another field. A resident of Minnesota, Kirstin treats her two cats (Spook and Finlay) like the children they are. She never misses an opportunity to explore a thrift store with a coffee in hand, especially if it’s a cold autumn day!

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