Yes you saw a pink snake!

Western coachwhip snake

By Rick LoBello, Board Member

For many years when I wore my Ranger Rick hat working at Big Bend National Park some of my most memorable conversations at the Panther Junction Visitor Center were when people driving through the park would stop by and report seeing a large pink snake crossing the road. You just don’t see a pink snake everyday and it was funny when people acted hesitantly when approaching me at the information desk. Indeed many of the large snakes crossing the roads in the park are western coachwhips and many of them are pink in color.

Often called red racers, but they are too small to put on display at this time since when they first arrived they were very small and able to escape through the mesh a the top of their cage. When they are big enough you will be able to see them in the Ranch House.

Western coachwhips can grow up to six feet long and unlike most desert snakes are active during the day. As a result more people see coachwhips than most of the other snakes inhabiting our area. There are about six subspecies and not all of them are red in color. Another common color often seen is black with a light colored stripe.

If you see one there is no need to worry since they are non-venomous. They move very fast and some have been clocked at 4 mph. One minute the snake is there the next minute its gone. One day at Panther Junction Park Headquarters a western coachwhip found a desert cottontail nest. Unfortunately for mother cottontail all of her young were eaten by the snake. Coachwhips will also eat rodents, lizards and birds.

World Snake Day on July 16, 2021