House Digest on MSN

12 Black Snake Species That May Be Lurking In Your Garden (& Why The Difference Matters)

There are multiple black snake species, and some of these go after rodents and other critters for food, while others will ...
IFLScience on MSN

California Has A New State Snake, And It’s A 1.6-Meter-Long Giant

The “giant” part of its name is pretty apt – adult giant garter snakes can reach a whopping 1.62 meters (5.3 feet). Sure, ...

This Central Valley serpent is California’s new state snake. Can recognition save it from extinction?

For this humble brown reptile to rebound as successfully as other endangered species, conservation history shows that it will ...
Capital Public Radio

Why a local group wants to make the Central Valley’s giant garter snake a state symbol

It’s not always easy getting the average person obsessed with snakes. They’re often an object of fear. But some enthusiasts want to change that — like Michael Starkey. He’s the founder of the ...

California establishes official state snake, state shrub

Celebrate California's biodiversity with the newly designated state snake and shrub: the Giant Garter Snake and Bigberry Manzanita. Learn what makes them special.