Help ID snake near Deming NM ![enter image description here]( snake is in our yard, south of Deming NM, in Luna County. Approximate length is about 3 1/2 feet. It moved slowly at the time, but was being picked on by a couple of medium-sized birds. It is basically black with a black, narrow head. The body and snout have pale yellowish markings. On the body, the yellow is individual scales, so almost spotted. And on the snout, more like lines or stripes. I have some good photos, and even videos, but it says the files are too big - need to be under 2 giggleburps or something and I don't know how to do that.

Though a full body image would help a lot, I feel certain that it is the desert king snake scientifically known as _Lampropeltis getula splendida_. This species is seen in most parts of New Mexico and is not venomous. It primarily feeds on rodents, lizards, birds, snakes and eggs.

Here's a link to a website with more details on this species and other snake species of New Mexico: <

Here's a variety of different photos of the desert king snake from different angles (but different ages, sizes and pattern varieties of the same species).

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