Sharp-tailed snake (Contia tenuis)
The sharp-tailed snake is a non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. GBIF holds 959 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 3 states, most of all California (891), Oregon (39) and Washington (27). Its observation records peak in April.
The sharp-tailed snake or sharptail snake (Contia tenuis) is a small species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Western United States and British Columbia.
From Wikipedia: Sharp-tailed snake, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the sharp-tailed snake poisonous or venomous?
No. The sharp-tailed snake is non-venomous: it belongs to the family Colubridae, not to the pit vipers or coral snakes, the only U.S. land snakes with medically dangerous venom. It may bite if handled; clean the bite like any small wound.
Which states have the sharp-tailed snake?
The sharp-tailed snake's U.S. record is concentrated: California alone holds 93% of licensed records. It is listed in 3 states in all; the next are Oregon (39) and Washington (27).
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 891 | 1.2% | 19th of 46 |
| 2 | Oregon | 39 | 0.5% | 10th of 16 |
| 3 | Washington | 27 | 0.5% | 8th of 11 |
When is the sharp-tailed snake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the sharp-tailed snake run through most of the year, peaking in April with 20% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 25% of them.
Where the sharp-tailed snake is recorded in each state
California
California holds 891 licensed records, the 19th most recorded of 46 snakes listed there. Its observation records in California run mostly October through June, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Alameda County, Contra Costa County and Santa Clara County. Next come El Dorado County (53) and Napa County (52).
Oregon
Oregon holds 39 licensed records, the 10th most recorded of 16 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Oregon come from Benton County, Jackson County and Douglas County. Next come Lane County (2) and Wasco County (2).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alameda County | California | 131 | 13.7% |
| 2 | Contra Costa County | California | 99 | 10.3% |
| 3 | Santa Clara County | California | 66 | 6.9% |
| 4 | El Dorado County | California | 53 | 5.5% |
| 5 | Napa County | California | 52 | 5.4% |
| 6 | Sonoma County | California | 51 | 5.3% |
| 7 | Monterey County | California | 39 | 4.1% |
| 8 | Shasta County | California | 36 | 3.8% |
| 9 | Tehama County | California | 32 | 3.3% |
| 10 | Marin County | California | 31 | 3.2% |
| 11 | San Mateo County | California | 31 | 3.2% |
| 12 | Sacramento County | California | 26 | 2.7% |
| 13 | Mendocino County | California | 25 | 2.6% |
| 14 | Placer County | California | 25 | 2.6% |
| 15 | Butte County | California | 24 | 2.5% |
How recent are the sharp-tailed snake records?
The sharp-tailed snake record leans on older material: only 31% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1997. The oldest dated record is from 1877; the busiest year was 2025, with 56 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 4 | 0.4% |
| 1890s | 8 | 0.9% |
| 1900s | 7 | 0.7% |
| 1910s | 13 | 1.4% |
| 1920s | 14 | 1.5% |
| 1930s | 42 | 4.5% |
| 1940s | 72 | 7.7% |
| 1950s | 69 | 7.4% |
| 1960s | 63 | 6.7% |
| 1970s | 76 | 8.1% |
| 1980s | 82 | 8.7% |
| 1990s | 48 | 5.1% |
| 2000s | 71 | 7.6% |
| 2010s | 134 | 14.3% |
| 2020s | 235 | 25.1% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 23 counties where the sharp-tailed snake is most recorded, 20 are also top counties for the gopher snake, more than for any other snake. Venomous species among its neighbors: the western rattlesnake.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Gopher snake | 20 |
| Eastern racer | 17 |
| Ring-necked snake | 16 |
| Western rattlesnake venomous | 16 |
| California kingsnake | 15 |
| Aquatic garter snake | 12 |
| Common garter snake | 11 |
| Western terrestrial garter snake | 11 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other members of the family Colubridae with profiles here: Western terrestrial garter snake, Common garter snake, Gopher snake, Ring-necked snake, Northern water snake and Eastern racer.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.