Meet Cabrillo’s Snake Ambassadors
At Cabrillo National Monument, some of the most memorable park educators do not wear uniforms. They do not give formal presentations, lead hikes, or answer questions at the visitor center desk.
They are snakes.
Summer, age 17, California kingsnake. Photo credit: Hannah Marquez
Wilson, age 13, San Diego gopher snake
Meet Summer, a 17-year-old albino California kingsnake, and Wilson, a 13-year-old San Diego gopher snake. Together, they are Cabrillo’s Snake Ambassadors, providing visitors with the opportunity to get close to a snake, ask questions, and learn more about the native species at the park.
For Sam Buck, a Science Educator at Cabrillo National Monument, the program is one of the most rewarding parts of her week.
Sam Buck teaches park visitors how to pet Wilson
Every Friday, Sam brings either Wilson or Summer out to the breezeway near the visitor center for an hour-long snake talk. Some visitors are immediately curious. Others keep their distance. But over time, Sam has watched people slowly move closer, ask questions, and sometimes even touch a snake for the first time.
In a recent interview, Sam shared that for many visitors, meeting Cabrillo’s snake ambassadors “is their first time touching or getting up close” to these animals. These interactions can really change a visitor’s perspective on snakes.
Snakes are widely misunderstood animals, and many people arrive with fears shaped by movies, myths, or past experiences. One of the most common misconceptions Sam hears is that snakes are aggressive.
“Snake bites are out of defensiveness, not aggression,” Sam explained. Biting is risky for a snake. It means putting the most vulnerable part of its body, its head, close to a potential predator. Most snakes are simply trying to protect themselves, and their first choice is usually to escape.
Sam remembers one interaction especially clearly. A visitor began the conversation by telling her, “The only good snake is a dead snake,” and said she had killed snakes in the past. But as they talked, the visitor slowly moved closer. After about 20 minutes, she was petting Summer.
By the end of the conversation, the visitor told Sam that if she saw a snake again, she would leave it alone.
“Oh my gosh, Summer’s doing her thing,” Sam remembered thinking. “She is saving other snakes!”
Summer and Wilson are not only helping visitors learn about the snakes at Cabrillo and work through their own fears. They are helping protect other snakes, too.
Of course, caring for animals takes time, attention, and resources. Summer and Wilson both live in the park office, Wilson right above Sam’s desk. As their official caretaker, Sam is responsible for making sure the snakes are fed, their water is clean, their heat lamps are on, and their behavior looks normal. She keeps detailed notes, monitoring their activity and behaviors. If anything seems awry, Sam brings them to a local exotic animal veterinarian.
Summer making the most of her free-roaming time around the Cabrillo Ranger’s office.
Cabrillo National Monument Foundation funds the food and veterinary care that keeps Summer and Wilson healthy, comfortable, and ready to meet visitors. Recently, when Summer showed signs that could have indicated an upper respiratory infection, Sam brought her to the vet. Thankfully, Summer was healthy, but the visit confirmed a few important care needs, including mild arthritis. While Summer is still thriving as one of Cabrillo’s snake ambassadors, eventually she will reach retirement age, at which point one of her current or past caretakers will adopt her.
The support CNMF provides, made possible by our generous members and donors, is what allows Summer and Wilson to do what they do best: help visitors replace fear with understanding and build a deeper appreciation for Cabrillo’s native wildlife. Thank you to our animal ambassadors and the humans who care for them for helping us all broaden our perspectives and challenge our misconceptions.
To support programs like Snake Ambassador, visit CNMF.org.
Cabrillo National Monument Foundation (CNMF) is the official philanthropic partner to Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego’s only National Park. With your help, we support programs and initiatives that preserve the rich cultural and natural treasures and enhance the visitor experience at Cabrillo National Monument. Join our work by becoming a monthly member to give-back all year, or make a one-time donation to support one of our ongoing projects that inspires you.