Gopher Snake

Gopher Snake patient at California Wildlife Center

Pituophis catenifer
 
Growing up, I was taught to fear of snakes because we were always out hiking and camping, and I’m sure my parents didn’t want me trying to befriend a rattlesnake. I tried this with a bee when I was five and, not surprisingly, ended up being stung. I’m sorry bee. I just loved you too much.

As much as I feared them, the snake Zoobook was my absolute favorite. I loved seeing all the different kinds of snakes there were. I learned more about snakes and began to appreciate them. Once I began working for animal organizations, I often had to hold snakes and learned about how different species have different temperaments. Arizona Rosy Boas are feisty, Garter Snakes are fickle, and Hognose Snakes are rather docile. My favorite snake soon became the Gopher Snake.

Gopher Snakes, sometimes called Bull Snakes, can reach up to nine feet long! They are relatively mellow, calmly moving out of the way if you encounter them on the trail. They have adapted to a number of environments and are found throughout most of North America.

Their primary defense is that they kind of look like rattlesnakes. Gopher Snakes are non-venomous, unlike rattlesnakes, but they have similar markings. When threatened, Gopher Snakes will flatten out their heads to resemble the diamond-shaped head of a rattlesnake and shake their tail in dry leaves to sound like a rattle. Gopher Snakes are preyed upon by raptors, foxes, and coyotes, so some form of defense, even if it is cosplay, is necessary.

Gopher Snakes are great to have around. They eat small rodents, preventing populations from getting out of control. And, as I mentioned before, they are harmless. That doesn’t mean they won’t bite you if you try and pick them up, but if you leave them alone, they will leave you alone. They can be injured by getting stuck in bird netting or trapped on sticky traps. I’ve seen a few come in for care when I worked in wildlife rehabilitation.
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So, if you suffer from Ophidiophobia or a fear of snakes, I highly recommend learning more about snakes and what makes them awesome. Gopher Snakes are a great gateway snake to learning to love these long, low-lying creatures!

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