A gopher snake is a non-venomous reptile belonging to the Pituophis genus, commonly found across North America. These constricting snakes are recognized for their adaptable nature and their significant role in various ecosystems. Despite their often intimidating appearance, gopher snakes are generally not dangerous to humans. They are a widespread species that often draws attention due to their size and defensive behaviors.
Physical Characteristics and Identification
Gopher snakes are large, heavy-bodied reptiles, with adults ranging from 3 to 7 feet in length, though some individuals can reach up to 9 feet. Their base coloration varies, encompassing shades of yellow, tan, straw, or cream. This background is overlaid with distinct dark blotches, which can be brown, black, or reddish, accompanied by smaller spots on their sides. Their underside is creamy or yellowish, often marked with dark spots.
A gopher snake’s head is large and set apart from its neck, appearing more narrow and rounded compared to the triangular shape often seen in venomous snakes. They possess a prominent rostral scale on the tip of their snout and have round pupils. A dark stripe extends from the front of the eye to the angle of the jaw. Their scales are keeled, meaning they have a raised ridge, which gives the snake a rough texture. The tail tapers to a pointed end, lacking any form of rattle.
Habitat and Geographic Range
Gopher snakes are one of the most widely distributed snake species across North America. Their range extends from southwestern Canada, through much of the central and western United States, and south into northern Mexico. They inhabit diverse environments, showcasing adaptability.
These snakes can be found in deserts, prairies, grasslands, woodlands, chaparral, and agricultural areas. They also occupy shrublands, open coniferous forests, and marshy regions. While found across various elevations, gopher snakes prefer open areas within these habitats, such as grasslands or forest edges.
Diet and Behavior
Gopher snakes are carnivorous predators, primarily consuming small mammals such as gophers, mice, voles, rats, and young rabbits. Their diet also includes birds, bird eggs, lizards, insects, or other snakes. They are constrictors, subduing their prey by coiling around it and squeezing. These snakes actively search for prey, entering underground burrows and following mammal runways. They inhabit the burrows of their prey, which is how they earned their common name.
Gopher snakes are primarily active during the day, though they may shift to nocturnal activity in warmer conditions to avoid extreme heat. They are burrowers, spending time underground, and are capable climbers and swimmers. When not actively hunting, they are observed basking in the sun to regulate their body temperature.
Interaction with Humans and Common Misconceptions
Gopher snakes are non-venomous and harmless to humans, despite their imposing size and defensive displays. While they may bite if they feel threatened, their bite is mechanical and does not inject venom, requiring only basic wound cleaning. A common misconception is that gopher snakes are dangerous, often leading to their unnecessary killing due to mistaken identity.
When confronted or feeling threatened, gopher snakes employ defensive behaviors that mimic those of rattlesnakes. They can produce a loud hiss by expelling air. Simultaneously, they may vibrate their tail, which can create a buzzing sound similar to a rattlesnake’s rattle. They can flatten their heads into a triangular shape, further enhancing their resemblance to venomous pit vipers. These behaviors, including coiling their body, are meant to deter predators by making the snake appear more dangerous than it is.
Several distinctions exist between gopher snakes and rattlesnakes that can aid in identification. Gopher snakes have round pupils, whereas rattlesnakes have vertical, cat-like pupils. The most obvious difference is the tail: a gopher snake’s tail tapers to a point and lacks a rattle, while a rattlesnake has a blunt tail tipped with a segmented rattle. Additionally, rattlesnakes, being pit vipers, have heat-sensing facial pits between their eyes and nostrils, which gopher snakes lack. A gopher snake’s head is narrower and more rounded than the triangular head of a rattlesnake, which appears triangular due to venom glands. Understanding these differences can help reduce unnecessary fear and promote coexistence with these beneficial reptiles.