Striped racer (Masticophis lateralis)
The striped racer is a non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. GBIF holds 1,248 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 1 state, most of all California (1,246). Its observation records peak in May.
Is the striped racer poisonous or venomous?
No. The striped racer 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 striped racer?
All listed records come from a single state, California, with 1,246 records.
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 1,246 | 1.7% | 15th of 46 |
When is the striped racer seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the striped racer run mostly March through September, peaking in May with 27% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 3% of them.
How recent are the striped racer records?
The striped racer record leans on older material: only 27% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1985. The oldest dated record is from 1862; the busiest year was 2026, with 56 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 2 | 0.2% |
| 1870s | 3 | 0.2% |
| 1880s | 3 | 0.2% |
| 1890s | 13 | 1.1% |
| 1900s | 23 | 1.9% |
| 1910s | 40 | 3.3% |
| 1920s | 32 | 2.6% |
| 1930s | 76 | 6.2% |
| 1940s | 86 | 7.0% |
| 1950s | 117 | 9.6% |
| 1960s | 91 | 7.5% |
| 1970s | 93 | 7.6% |
| 1980s | 63 | 5.2% |
| 1990s | 80 | 6.6% |
| 2000s | 101 | 8.3% |
| 2010s | 122 | 10.0% |
| 2020s | 275 | 22.5% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 15 counties where the striped racer is most recorded, 15 are also top counties for both the California kingsnake and the western rattlesnake; no other snake shares more. Venomous species among its neighbors: the western rattlesnake.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| California kingsnake | 15 |
| Western rattlesnake venomous | 15 |
| Gopher snake | 14 |
| Two-striped garter snake | 12 |
| Coachwhip | 11 |
| Coast nightsnake | 11 |
| Glossy snake | 10 |
| Western black-headed snake | 10 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other species of the genus Masticophis with profiles here: Coachwhip, Striped whipsnake and Sonoran whipsnake.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.