Gopher snakes are common, non-venomous reptiles encountered across North America. These adaptable snakes are often mistaken for venomous species due to their defensive displays. Understanding where gopher snakes live provides insight into their widespread presence and their role in various ecosystems.
Their North American Home
Gopher snakes, scientifically known as Pituophis catenifer, inhabit an expansive range across North America. Their distribution stretches from southwestern Canada, including parts of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, south through much of the United States. In the United States, they are found from the Pacific coast eastward into Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and western Texas. This extensive territory continues into Mexico, encompassing regions such as Baja California, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, and Tamaulipas states.
This broad geographic spread highlights their adaptability to varying climates and terrains. Gopher snakes can be found from sea level up to elevations of approximately 2,740 meters (9,000 feet) in mountainous areas. The species is widely distributed across the continent.
Preferred Environments
They are commonly found in grasslands, prairies, and open woodlands, along with deserts, chaparral, and scrublands. These snakes also readily occupy agricultural fields, cultivated areas, and even suburban landscapes. They favor open areas and the edges of forests, often near moist habitats.
A defining characteristic of their habitat selection is the availability of shelter and hunting grounds. Gopher snakes frequently utilize abandoned burrows of rodents, such as gophers, ground squirrels, and prairie dogs, or they may dig their own with their pointed snouts. These underground retreats provide protection from predators and extreme temperatures, and serve as sites for egg-laying. Rocky crevices, talus slopes, and dense vegetation also offer important cover for these snakes.
Coexisting with Gopher Snakes
Given their widespread distribution and adaptability, human encounters with gopher snakes are common, particularly in areas where their habitats overlap with human activity. People often find these snakes in gardens, rural properties, hiking trails, and anywhere rodent populations are abundant. Gopher snakes are generally docile, posing no significant threat to humans.
When threatened, gopher snakes employ a defensive display that can lead to misidentification as a rattlesnake. They may hiss loudly, inflate their bodies, flatten their heads into a triangular shape, and vigorously shake their tails, sometimes creating a rattling sound in dry vegetation. While a bite can be painful due to their sharp teeth, it is not medically dangerous. Observing them from a distance and avoiding provocation is the recommended approach if one is encountered. These snakes are beneficial to ecosystems as natural rodent control agents.