ID please? (dead brown snake)

[Lolo76]

I was at my father's home earlier today, which is in Atherton CA, about halfway between San Francisco and San Jose. While walking down the front path with my family, I spotted a tiny little brown snake... we thought it was alive at first, but when my 4 1/2 year-old niece came over and grabbed it (no fear whatsoever) we realized it was stiff as a board. She carried around the dead snake for a minute, before I told her to toss it in the grass.

Just curious if anyone can ID this, as I don't know what kind of wild snakes we have in that area - and since my fearless niece spends a lot of time there, it's always good to know what she might encounter. Pretty sure it's a harmless grass-type of snake, but figured I'd ask!

Sorry you can't see the head, but it had a pituophis-ish appearance:

[gardenfiend138]

How tiny are we talking? If it's that small, possibly a sharp-tailed snake (Contia tenuis). Check out californiaherps.org, they are great!

[Lolo76]

Thanks for the reply and suggestion! I'd say it was no longer than 18" long, possibly even smaller... but it could have been a hatchling/juvie. The crack in the pavement was maybe 1/2", if that helps any.

[gardenfiend138]

Hmm if it was 18" that would be pretty big for a sharp-tail. Do you happen to remember what the underside looked like? I'm still going to say sharp-tail! The only venomous snakes we have in northern/ central CA are the northern-pacific rattlers, so you're definitely safe there!

[Lolo76]

Hmm if it was 18" that would be pretty big for a sharp-tail. Do you happen to remember what the underside looked like?

Not 100% sure, but I think it was white...

I'm still going to say sharp-tail! The only venomous snakes we have in northern/ central CA are the northern-pacific rattlers, so you're definitely safe there!

Yeah, I didn't think we had to worry about venomous around here - but always best to ask, when a child is running around picking up the critters. Right?