Western Coachwhip
(Masticophis flegullum)
Without a doubt our fastest snake. These animals prowl around during the day in search of grasshoppers, cicadas, lizards, snakes and small rodents. When pursued, may take to a tree or disappear down into a mammal burrow. I once caught one of these under a board. While I was capturing it, I accidentally stepped on a small mouse. I had the snake in one hand and the mouse in the other looking at it when the snake snatched the mouse right out of my hand. I could not believe it. The coachwhip that I had just captured was eating a dead mouse as if I had not bothered its day in the slightest.