California will have an official state snake in 2026. A new law that takes effect in January makes the giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) the official state snake. The species is native to ...

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 ...

Earlier this month the giant garter snake joined an illustrious group including Dungeness crab, grizzly bears and redwood trees when it became an official symbol of the state of California. The ...

In an unassuming building at the San Francisco Zoo, 115 brilliantly colored baby snakes are being fattened up on a diet of worms. These are endangered San Francisco garter snakes and during a visit in ...