On February 5, 1997, the Alameda Whipsnake was added to the federal government's list of threatened species. The action by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service means the snake is eligible for federal habitat protection and restoration funding.

The whipsnake is sooty black with yellow-orange stripes running the length of its body. It can grow to 4 feet and is found most abundantly in Mt. Diablo State Park. It eats lizards, rattlesnakes, small mammals and birds. The snake is known for its speed, which it generally uses to retreat from humans.