The Golden State has added an official shrub and snake, both selected for how they embody California’s natural resilience.

The giant garter snake is now California’s official state snake. Discover its unique traits and habitat challenges.

Counts of the elusive giant garter snake have dwindled in recent decades. What could unexpected construction do to its ...

Sacramento County officials are weighing a wave of development proposals that could turn thousands of acres of rice fields ...

John Roberts, director of the Natomas Basin Conservancy, explains the importance of land management of the Natomas Basin in Sutter and Sacramento counties on Nov. 10, 2025.

Picture an animal that huddles up with others when stressed, babysits its young, hangs out around relatives, and gathers in big groups every year. Did you imagine a rattlesnake? For a long time, ...

A sleek North American snake known for its metallic blue sheen and incredible speed — it can glide through grasslands like a flash of blue lightning. Native to Indonesia, this venomous viper stuns ...

Often spotted slithering through gardens, grassy yards, and forest edges, the garter snake is one of North America’s most common and misunderstood reptiles. These non-venomous snakes are easily ...