occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: (200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)) Range extends from south-central British Columbia south through Washington, Oregon, southern Idaho, eastern California, Nevada, Utah, western Colorado, northern, western, and much of southernwestern Arizona, northeastern Baja California, and northwestern mainland Mexico (Mulcahy 2008).

Habitat Type: Terrestrial

Comments: This snake generally inhabits arid and semiarid plains, canyons, and hillsides, usually in rocky, dissected or hilly terrain with sandy or gravelly soils, including areas dominated by desert, grassland, shrubland, savanna, or woodland (Hammerson 1999, Stebbins 2003). Periods of inactivity are spend under rocks or other surface cover, in crevices, or underground. In Idaho, individuals can be found under surface rocks in spring, but generally not in summer (Diller and Wallace 1986).

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Comments: This snake eats mainly lizards and lizard eggs, sometimes small snakes, frogs, insects, and salamanders (Stebbins 1985, Diller and Wallace 1986).

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 to >300

Comments: This species is represented by a large number of occurrences or subpopulations.

100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Comments: Total adult population size is unknown but undoubtedly exceeds 100,000. The species occupies a wide range and is locally fairly common.

In Idaho, adult females deposit a clutch of several eggs in June; males possibly are sexually mature in 1 year (Diller and Wallace 1986).

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N1 - Critically Imperiled

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable (=10% change)

Comments: Extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of subpopulations, and population size probably are relatively stable.

Comments: No major threats have been identified. The habitat generally tends to be unsuitable for incompatible human uses.