REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS

Serpentine Habitat

 

The serpentine rock containing hills that surround Cal Poly provide an ideal habitat for a variety of reptiles. The sunny and dry hillsides are home to a number of snakes such as the Gopher Snake, California Red-Sided Garter and the California Kingsnake. The snakes and the lizards rely on the heat provided by the sun to help regulate their body temperature. It's not uncommon to see a snake or a lizard sunbathing on the serpentine rocks. Students who hike up to the Cal Poly “P” often report seeing or at least hearing Rattlesnakes.