Distribution of the Gopher Snake
- The Sonoran subspecies ranges from Texas to southern California and Mexico.
- The San Diego subspecies is native to southern California.
- The Pacific subspecies ranges from Oregon to California.
- The Great Basin subspecies lives in the western United States – from southern Canada to California, and from Wyoming to Arizona.
Full Answer
What is the life span of a gopher snake?
Lifespan: The average lifespan in wild gopher snakes is 12-15 years. In captivity, they have been known to live for as long as 33 years. She was being kept as a pet by someone in Auburn, CA and turned her over to another facility who sent her to us in June 2019. We suspect that she was a year or two old when she arrived.
Could a gopher snake eat a poison rat?
Their coloration and behavior can lead people to mistakenly think of them as a number of different venomous snake species. Gopher snakes are inherently harmless reptiles, unless you happen to be a mouse or frog. They do, however, pose a danger to small animals, and hunt their prey skillfully.
How do gopher snakes shed their skin?
Ways in which you can help the snake during this time is:
- Try to leave your snake alone, let them rest and focus entirely on shedding their skin.
- Add some more humidity to the caging, this does not mean 100% the enclosure as this could cause R.I (raspatory infections). ...
- Spraying the caging lightly with water, we opt to use room temp as cold water could stress your pet snake.
What do gopher snakes eat in California?
Interesting Facts About the Gopher Snake
- Don’t Tread on Me – Despite their sometimes-lengthy size, these snakes do end up as meals themselves. ...
- A Keen Eye – The easiest way to distinguish between gopher snakes and rattlesnakes is to simply look closely at the tail. ...
- When in Doubt, Back Out! ...
- Herp Hangout – Most people don’t know that gopher snakes actually have home territories! ...
Where do gopher snakes like to live?
Gopher Snakes live in pine forests to treeless prairies to rocky deserts, grasslands, prairies, and coastal dunes. Their range extends Southern Canada, western and central U.S. and into Mexico.
Where do gopher snakes hide?
The gopher snake makes its home in any number of different habitats. They can live in arid deserts, coastal dunes, grasslands, open scrublands, and coniferous forests, to name a few. Within these habitats, their favorite hideouts include burrows, dense vegetation, rocky outcroppings, and trees.
Can a gopher snake hurt you?
Though it may look like it is about to cause as much harm as a rattlesnake, it can't – this species is non-venomous and not poisonous. In fact, they are typically docile, and they pose no threat to humans (though the same can't be said for the small mammals they hunt).
Where is gopher snake located?
Range/ Habitat: The gopher snake is one of the most widespread snakes in North America. Its range extends from the Atlantic to Pacific oceans, as far north as southern Canada, and as far south as Veracruz and southern Sinaloa, Mexico, including Baja California.
Where do gopher snakes go at night?
When the weather turns hot, they hunt during the night and rest on warm rocks or pavement during the day. They hibernate during the winter and are out and about between April and October, however in Southern California because of the warm climate their presences is more consistent.
Do gopher snakes climb trees?
Slow-moving, the gopher snake investigates burrows, rocky crevices and even climbs trees in search of prey. Adult snakes hunt small rodents, young rabbits, lizards, birds and occasionally other snakes, usually by their sense of smell.
Can a snake get in your toilet?
According to experts, unfortunately, it can happen. Not only can snakes come up through the toilet, but other critters like rats, squirrels, and tree frogs can too. However, this is not a very common occurrence, so you can breathe a sigh of relief.
Can gopher snakes climb walls?
There are some very good climbers, like Gophersnakes, Coachwhips, and kingsnakes, that can do fun things like climb straight up rough stucco walls – so seeing one of these snakes in a rattlesnake-fence protected area is not an indicator that the fence has failed in some way.
What do you do if you find a gopher snake?
“Gopher snakes are perfectly harmless snakes, you can walk right up to them,” said Laurie Osborne, Education Coordinator at the Reptile Rescue. “If they bit you it would be like a bad paper cut, it's not anything medically significant, so we try to have people leave them on their property.
Can you pick up a gopher snake?
Answer: A valid sport fishing license is required to capture or kill gopher snakes in California, per CCR Title 14, section 5.60. The bag limit is four and the possession limit is four. Gopher snakes can be taken by hand, lizard noose, tongs or a snake stick, year-round.
Where do gopher snakes go in winter?
During the cold months of late fall and winter Gopher snakes hibernate underground. They have a unique defensive mechanism, in which they puff up their body and curl themselves into the classic strike pose of a pit viper.
How do you identify a gopher snake?
Head and eyes: Gopher snakes usually have round pupils compared to the diagonal the elongated pupils of the rattlesnake. Color and markings: Gopher snakes are usually a lighter color of tan or brown, covered in darker splotches of mostly brown or black—however the colors can vary in individual snakes.
Where do gopher snakes live?
Gopher snakes are found from southern British Columbia south through all of western North America to Northern Mexico. These snakes live in a wide range of habitats including deserts, prairies, grasslands, savannahs, shrublands and thickets, woodlands and forests, open coniferous forests, agricultural areas, and marshes.
What are gopher snakes?
Gopher snakes are large nonvenomous snakes endemic to North America. Dorsally, they are yellowish or pale brown, with a series of large, dark brown or black blotches, and smaller, dark spots on the sides. Ventrally, they are yellowish, either uniform or with brown markings. These snakes are often mistaken for the Prairie rattlesnake but can be easily distinguished from a rattlesnake by the lack of black and white banding on their tail and by the shape of their head, which is narrower than a rattlesnake's.
What is the difference between a rattlesnake and a gopher snake?
Gopher snakes are often mistaken for rattlesnakes but there are some differences between these two species. Gopher snakes have round eyes while the shape of rattlesnakes' eyes is diamond-shaped, and Gopher snakes don't have a rattle at the end of their tail which gives rattlesnakes their name.
How many eggs do gopher snakes lay?
2-24 eggs. Gopher snakes are polygynandrous (promiscuous) and both males and females mate with multiple partners. They usually breed from June to August. Females lay 2-24 eggs in burrows which they excavate in the soil beneath large rocks or logs, or they may use small mammal burrows.
Do gopher snakes live in ponds?
Gopher snakes are primarily diurnal creatures but sometimes may be active at night during warm weather. They are solitary and live alone in their burrows which they dig themselves or in abandoned burrows of other mammals. They are ground-dwelling snakes but can climb well; they are very good swimmers and can hunt frogs in ponds. During the cold months of late fall and winter Gopher snakes hibernate underground. They have a unique defensive mechanism, in which they puff up their body and curl themselves into the classic strike pose of a pit viper. However, rather than delivering an open-mouthed strike, Gopher snakes may strike with a closed mouth, using their blunt nose to "warn off" possible predators. Also, they often shake their tail, confusing predators into thinking it is a rattlesnake. This works best when the snake is in dry leaves or on gravel. Gopher snakes can also produce a loud hiss when agitated or fearful. However, they are nonvenomous, generally good-natured, and not harmful to humans.
Is the gopher snake a red or red snake?
According to IUCN, the Gopher snake is locally common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Do gopher snakes have a rattlesnake tail?
This works best when the snake is in dry leaves or on gravel. Gopher snakes can also produce a loud hiss when agitated or fearful. However, they are nonvenomous, generally good-natured, and not harmful to humans.
Where do gopher snakes live?
They can live in woods and forests, deserts, rocky bluffs, prairies, agricultural fields, shrublands and thickets , according to ADW.
How big are gopher snakes?
Physical characteristics. “Gopher snakes are large, powerful snakes,” Viernum told Live Science. “They typically reach lengths of 36-96 inches [3 to 8 feet].”. Compared to other snakes of the same size, they have relatively large eyes. Gopher snakes have relatively large and distinct heads with narrow necks.
How long does it take for a gopher snake to hatch?
After a 65-75 day incubation period, 2 to 24 young hatch and are instantly independent. Gopher snakes have no parental involvement after laying eggs. Babies are born 12-18 inches (30 to 45 cm) long and can be up to 3 feet (92 cm) long after one year, according to Stanford University.
Why do gopher snakes have a loud hiss?
Because of their coloring gopher snakes are usually camouflaged when in vegetation or rocks. Therefore, they are usually caught when sunning themselves out in the open. “When threatened, they will produce a very loud hiss, vibrate their tails, and even flatten their heads,” Viernum said.
What snakes have yellow tails?
Confusion with Rattlesnakes. “Many people mistake gopher snakes for rattlesnakes, ” said Viernum. Both have splotchy dark markings on their backs, yellow or brownish coloration and large heads. They are both known to hiss loudly, vibrate their tails and flatten their heads when threatened, Viernum said.
Why are gopher snakes so intimidating?
Gopher snakes are muscular, long serpents that can be intimidating because of their size; however, but there’s little to fear because they are nonvenomous. In fact, they are important to keeping the rodent population in check and maintaining their local ecosystems, according to Stanford University . “Gopher snakes are members of the genus ...
What color are gopher snakes?
They range from cream to light brown and have dark blotches on their backs and smaller dark spots along their sides, said Viernum. They generally have light-colored bellies, sometimes with spots.
How long do gopher snakes live?
Gopher Snakes Live A Long Time. In the wild, gopher snakes live between 12 and 15 years, but they can live up to 33 years of age in captivity. It is important to be aware that these snakes are very long-term commitments. Of course, they only live that long if you provide them the right environment.
What temperature do gopher snakes live in?
The ideal temperature for you Gopher snake is in the mid-70s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit.
How many eggs does a gopher snake lay?
The gopher snake lays up to 24 eggs while the rattlesnake gives birth to live young.
Why do farmers appreciate gopher snakes?
Because the gopher snake’s diet consists of these and other small rodents, farmers appreciate these snakes, because they keep rodent populations under control. Left to run amok, rodents can harm crops. The gopher snake is a constrictor.
What is the best enclosure for a gopher snake?
One type of gopher snake is the bull snake, which is known for getting very large. Read our comparison of bull snakes and gopher snakes for more details. A 30-gallon aquarium equipped with a hiding place such as a ‘rock cave’ is adequate for smaller gopher snakes, but a somewhat larger enclosure is even better.
Why does a gopher snake hiss so loudly?
The snake hisses like this when it feels threatened by humans in its territory. Let’s take a look at some more interesting facts about this gopher snake.
What is the difference between a gopher snake and a rattlesnake?
The gopher snake’s imitation of the rattlesnake’s actions, and they way it puffs up and rises to a striking position, looks very convincing as a rattlesnake. Vipers like the rattlesnake strike with an open mouth, while the gopher strikes with its mouth closed.
Where do Sonoran gopher snakes live?
Native to the southwestern part of the US, the Sonoran Gopher Snake is one of six identified subspecies of the gopher snake. ‘Pituophis catenifer affinis’ is the scientific name of this species. Although these snakes are extremely fond of dry desert climates, they can be found in West Texas to southeastern California and different parts of Mexico.
How big are gopher snakes?
Being very large in size, gopher snakes are powerful reptiles. They usually range between 36 to 96 inches in length. As far as their eyes are concerned, they are pretty big compared to other snakes. Furthermore, their heads are large with narrow necks.
Why do gopher snakes bite?
When a gopher snake feels threatened, it will attack with a closed mouth so that predators can stay away. But the fact cannot be held for denial that this species of snakes can also release a powerful bite. This bite can cause extreme pain to the predator. You may not know that the hiss given by this reptile is the loudest of all the snakes.
What are the different types of gopher snakes?
The species of gopher snakes can be segregated into the following: 1 Sonoran Gopher Snake 2 Pacific Gopher Snake 3 Bull Snake 4 Great Basin Gopher Snake
How does a gopher snake kill its prey?
Being a snake with hardly any poison, the gopher snake uses its constriction for killing its prey. Constriction overpowers the circulatory system of the victim, which results in the blockage of blood from flowing to the brain. And the prey is dead before you even know it.
Why do gopher snakes roll themselves?
Besides, they prefer to sun themselves on the road, which makes them unsafe as they can be run over by a car. When they sense fear, they will roll themselves to stay protected.
What color is a gopher snake?
Its base color can range from yellow to dark brown with gray coloring found on the sides of its body.
How big are gophers?
Most weigh less than a pound, though some reach up to two pounds. They have small bodies, short legs, and short tails. Their coats are normally brown, black, or tan in color. Generally, they measure between six and eight inches long.
What do gophers eat?
They feed on a wide variety of different plant species. Their diet consists primarily of roots, nuts, seeds, vegetables, grasses, stems, tubers, and more. Species in different regions have different types of plants available to eat.
What do zookeepers feed gophers?
Those that do usually have unique artificial tunnels with viewing areas, so visitors can take a peek at what their life is like beneath the surface of the soil. Zookeepers feed them a variety of grasses, pelleted herbivore food, and fresh vegetables.
What are the closest relatives of a gopher?
Their closest relatives are the kangaroo rat, kangaroo mouse, and pocket mouse. Read on to learn about the Gopher. Gopher in the snow.
What is the behavior of a gopher?
Behavior of the Gopher. These creatures are primarily solitary, territorial, and subterranean. This means that they live alone, defend a territory, and usually remain underground. They spend their time burrowing underground and searching for food.
Do gophers make good pets?
Does the Gopher Make a Good Pet. No, these rodents do not make good pets. They prefer spending their time underground, which doesn’t make for the most entertaining pet. In many places, it is also illegal to own a Gopher as a pet.
What do gopher snakes eat?
Both snakes eat small birds, eggs and mammals. If a gopher snake is in the area, a wandering rattlesnake will probably not want to share the same territory and move on to another area.
What snake has a triangle head?
Rattlers have triangle-shaped heads, broader at the base than in front, as do most venomous snakes. Gopher snake heads are oblong and the same width as their bodies. av-override. ‒‒:‒‒. /.
Do gopher snakes keep rattlesnakes away?
Because they compete with rattlesnakes for food and territory, gopher snakes will help keep rattlers away, notes the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Both species of snakes live in the burrows of other animals and under rocks and logs. Both snakes eat small birds, eggs and mammals.
