Endemic to the Northern California coastal communites of San Mateo county, and considered "The Most beautiful serpent in North America", the San Francisco Garter Snake is a truly gorgeous and exotic looking animal. Unfortuanetly, due to over 60 years of rapid California development, especially in the Bay Area, the natural habitat of this small snake has nearly vanished and the species is considered critically endangered. With only an estimated 2000 animals left in the wild, the largest natural population is found in the small coastal city of Pacifica, just south of San Francisco (and also home to Cotton Crustacaen!) where it hunts its favorite prey, the equally endangered red legged frog!