Gopher snakes are nonvenomous. They have no venom glands. Gopher snakes are not aggressive toward humans. However, they can bite if threatened. Their bites can severely hurt humans and pets.
The gopher snake has other names like the bull snake and pine snake. These names refer to the same species – Pituophis melanoleucus or Pituophis catenifer. In the western United States, it is often called the gopher snake. In the eastern states, the bull snake name is more common.
Gopher snakes help control the rodent population. They are important for maintaining local ecosystems. Gopher snakes typically move along roads and trails in mornings and evenings. They also roam around during hot days. If you meet a gopher snake, what should you do?
Gopher snakes do not have venom dangerous to most humans. They are solitary reptiles active during mating season. These snakes primarily prey on small mammals like mice and rats. They also prey on small birds and eggs. Gopher snakes hunt using their acute senses allowing great precision.
When frightened or angry, gopher snakes can hiss loudly as a defense. They are constrictors subduing prey by squeezing. Gopher snakes feed on small mammals such as rodents, gophers, rabbits and birds primarily.
Gopher snake bites are not venomous to humans. Their coloring camouflages them in native vegetation and rocks. Gopher snakes can be three to eight feet long. They have narrow, rounded heads unlike rattlesnakes’ flat, triangular heads. Gopher snakes have a stripe from the top of their heads to either side of their eyes. They have rounded rather than vertical, cat-like pupils.
On average, gopher snakes are four feet long. Their upper body has yellow, straw, tan or cream color with many brown or red blotches. Their underside is white with dark spots along the sides. Gopher snake bites usually only break the skin when the snake feels threatened. As they are nonvenomous, gopher snakes pose little real threat to humans.
Are Gopher snakes good or bad?
Gopher snakes can be very good pets for beginners. They’re constrictor snakes, so they don’t have venom glands. They’re not very aggressive and will only bite humans as a last resort. When cared for well in captivity, they can live for 30 years. Gopher snake hatchlings are about 1 foot in length, but will grow to 4-5 feet as adults. However, some sub-species can reach 6-7 feet.
As a result of their primary diet of rodents, these gentle snakes are good for the ecosystem since they keep the rodent population in check. Gopher snakes have yellowish to pale brown backs and can measure between three and eight feet. When threatened, this species will inflate its body, flatten its head, and vigorously shake its tail, which may produce a rattling sound if done in dry vegetation. However, gopher snakes are nonvenomous, generally good natured, and not harmful to humans.
Like all snakes, gopher snakes are carnivores. They eat small mammals, birds, and lizards. Gopher snakes are nonvenomous but can still inflict a painful bite. While gopher snakes primarily inhabit terrestrial environments, they are proficient climbers. They can scale trees or other vertical structures to access prey, escape predators, or find suitable shelter.
Gopher snakes are typically seen moving along roads and trails in the mornings and evenings. They also roam around during the day when there’s a high temperature. This is a common sight to see in California, where a number of these snakes live. When you meet them along the way, what should you do? Gopher snakes are neither poisonous nor venomous. Although they may look like a rattlesnake at a single glance, they don’t have a rattle that can hurt humans.
Gopher snakes as a rule will prefer to avoid people, but these are also snakes that are known to be generally good natured and passive. So long as they are handled cautiously, they are unlikely to bite, although you should not make this policy when encountering them in the wild. Gopher snakes are typically longer than rattlesnakes, but can be between three and eight feet of length.
Gopher snakes will help keep rattlers away, notes the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Both snakes eat small birds, eggs and mammals. Adult snakes hunt small rodents, young rabbits, lizards, birds and occasionally other snakes. Slow-moving, the Gopher Snake investigates burrows, rocky crevices, even climbs trees in search of prey. Gopher Snakes are neither poisonous nor venomous. They do not have poisonous Venom because of its Venom gland’s absence.
If you take good care of your pet gopher snake, it can live for up to 30 years! Gopher snakes make good pets once they grow used to being handled. But so they’re not ideal pets for inexperienced snake owners. Typical Gopher Snakes can be dangerous. As Gopher Snakes are non-poisonous, they are known to attack with closed mouths.
Gopher snakes are escape artists and require a very secure enclosure. Being so active, they require slightly more space than some other similar sized snakes, but they will use any extra room you give them and can be great display animals! Gopher snakes are one of the best options for first-time snake owners because most of the time, it has been seen that they are not harmful to humans as well as other pets.
How do you tell if it’s a gopher snake?
These snakes can be dangerous. However, gopher snakes are non-venomous. They have large heads and splotchy markings on their yellowish or brownish backs. When threatened, gopher snakes hiss loudly, vibrate their tails, and flatten their heads. Their tail shape identifies them.
If you want to handle a gopher snake, wear thick gloves. Approach it calmly from behind the head with gentle movements. Avoid sudden actions or grabbing its tail which causes defensive behavior. By following these snake identification and handling safety rules, you can confidently yet safely enjoy encounters with gopher snakes.
Rattlesnakes have triangular heads wider than their bodies. Bullsnakes have narrow heads streamlined to their bodies with eyes on the side and circular pupils. The bull snake is not poisonous or have poisonous fangs. However, it can deliver a painful bite and will lunge at anything threatening. Bull snakes live from Texas to southern Canada.
Only one medically significant snake lives here, the western rattlesnake. But a few others look similar, including the common gopher snake. Rattlesnakes won’t strike unless cornered or provoked. It helps knowing if a snake on the trail can harm you. While one trait identifies them, rattles may not be visible or the snake too young to have them. Since pattern and color vary in both, focus on consistent traits.
Bay Nature answers, how do I tell a gopher snake from a rattlesnake? We have only one medically significant snake here, the western rattlesnake. A few resident snakes look pretty similar, including the gopher snake. Rattlesnakes won’t strike unless cornered or provoked. But it helps knowing if that snake on the trail might harm you.
Bull Snake and Gopher Snake habits and looks are very alike. Let’s compare them to tell them apart. Main differences are size, coloration, range and scientific names. Bull Snakes are a Gopher Snake subspecies. They are larger with a more defined, darker coloration.
You can tell them apart by size. Adult Bull Snakes grow up to 8 feet long. Gopher Snakes are usually 4-5 feet long. Baby Bull Snakes have brighter colors and clearer patterns than paler Gopher Snake hatchlings.
When threatened, a gopher snake strikes with its mouth shut to scare predators. A powerful bite causes considerable pain. If threatened, gopher snakes hiss the loudest of any snake to defend themselves. Are gopher snakes friendly? They are active in daylight. Fun to watch since they are so curious. Most animals are docile and won’t resist being handled.
Female bull snakes lay large, creamy white eggs in sandy soil or beneath rocks and logs. The 2 to 4.5 inch eggs hatch in 64 to 79 days. Bull snakes have yellow bodies with black, brown, white or red blotches and pale yellow chin and belly. Rat snakes have shiny black backs with light brown or gray undersides. Bull snakes prefer open, sandy fields.
Gopher snakes and garter snakes are both harmless, without venom. But garter snake bites can rarely cause allergic reactions. Features making them distinct include appearance.
What do you do if you find a gopher snake?
If you find a gopher snake, use a pitchfork or scoop shovel to pick it up with the cloth. This is the trap to put outdoors to get rid of gopher snakes.
Gopher snakes can climb walls. They are not the same as garter snakes. If you see a gopher snake, leave it alone. Use traps outdoors to get rid of gopher snakes. You can keep a gopher snake as a pet. Gopher snakes eat small mammals.
Gopher snakes mate in spring. They lay 3-24 cream colored eggs in sandy soil or under rocks. The young hatch in 64-79 days. Gopher snakes reach maturity in 3-4 years. Despite a powerful bite that inflicts pain, they are not venomous. When threatened, they hiss loudly.
You can walk up to gopher snakes. They keep rattlesnakes away. Both species live in burrows and under rocks. They eat small birds, eggs and mammals. Gopher snakes do not have venom. They attack with closed mouths. If bitten, it inflicts pain but is not dangerous. To remove gopher snakes, fill burrows with gravel or call wildlife authorities. Gopher snakes can make good pets if captive bred. They need an appropriate enclosure. Gopher snakes eat small mammals.