Sharp-tailed Snake

With a pointed tail tip and hiding skills, the sharp-tailed snake (Contia tenuis)is an expert at avoiding its predators. Often found in the Bay Area, it is secretive, spending most of its life hidden away from human sight. These little snakes live in a range of environments across the Western U.S, but they most prefer damp areas with lots of surface material like twigs, roots, and leaves. They feed almost exclusively on slugs, and are most active in the fall and winter. Most sightings occur when digging in garden construction sites, where they curl up into a ball as a protective measure.