id snake i found

Question
i live in southern ca  i found a slender dark green snake with a single orange stripe around the back of his head it was about 18 inches long with a orange belly never seen one like this around here before

Answer
Hi Terry,

it sounds from description that you have come across a northern ring neck or a species of , the can be green in color to some color morhs are almost black,with a yellow or orange colored collar, if you happened to get a pic let me no and send it to steffntom@optonline.netthe face is sort of key in that a collered will have very cool black tiger like striping from the eyes and mouth

        hope this was somwhat helpful again just a guess, a pic would be ideal, oh it is non-venomus

                tommy