See: Kingsnake Rescued From Pleasanton Yard

PLEASANTON, CA — The Pleasanton Police Department rescued a kingsnake in need of help from from a local yard.

The snake became tangled in a piece of material and Pleasanton Police Animal Services Officer Frankie Ayers released the snake into the wild after spending more than an hour cutting it free, police said. Police ask the public to leave snakes alone unless they are in need of help or inside the home.

"Snakes are valued members of our ecosystem and should be left alone to carry out their duties as nature's pest control service," police said.

Kingsnakes are one of the most common species found in the United States, according to the San Diego Zoo. They are neither venomous nor dangerous to humans, but they constrict prey and are so named because they frequently kill and eat other snakes — even venomous snakes such as rattlesnakes.

The California mountain kingsnake and scarlet kingsnake can be easily confused with venomous coral snakes, according to the zoo. Remember: "Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, venom lack."

See the slithering snake rescued from the Pleasanton yard below:

This kingsnake was found in a local yard and rescued by #PleasantonPD's Animal Services Officer Frankie Ayers and the VIPS. If you happen to spot a snake, we urge you to leave it alone unless 1) it needs help like this poor guy or 2) it's inside your home. #BetterTogether pic.twitter.com/BnV9WeCIzL
— Pleasanton PD (@pleasantonpd) May 14, 2020