California Gopher Snake Vs Rattlesnake
But most rattlesnakes only grow to 5 feet long. Because they compete with rattlesnakes for food and territory gopher snakes will help keep rattlers away notes the california department of fish and wildlife.
We have only one medically significant snake species here in the bay area and that is the western rattlesnake crotalus oreganus but a few other resident snake species look pretty similar including the commonly seen and indefatigable gopher snake pituophis catenifer.
California gopher snake vs rattlesnake. This charade may be useful when facing most natural predators but all too often is deadly. Rattlesnakes and gopher snakes can look eerily similar to the untrained eye. Both species of snakes live in the.
I hope this video will help hikers see the visual difference between a diamondback rattlesnake and a gopher snake as both are common sights on california. Several similar subspecies occur in california. Unfortunately this harmless and beneficial species is very often killed out of fear that it is dangerous or that it is a rattlesnake.
The act is enhanced when the gopher snake shakes its tail while amongst leaves dried grasses or other debris. Ah the eternal question of the bay area hiker. Physical characteristics gopher snakes are large powerful snakes viernum told live science.
However its important to recognize the differences between non venomous gopher snakes members of the. The average adult gopher snake measures between 6 and 9 feet long while depending on the species rattlesnakes come in between 3 and 6 feet long. They have the same sort of markings and colors and both snakes can be a bit short tempered.
The longest rattlesnake is about 9 feet long and the fangs of a big rattlesnake can grow up to an inch long. Gopher snakes and rattlesnakes resemble each other superficially. A frightened gopher snake will flatten its head hiss loudly and shake its tail rapidly doing a convincing rattlesnake imitation.
However while the gopher snake is longer its body is slender and whip like compared to the rattlesnakes heavy bodied broad appearance. With similar square or diamond shaped markings and no nonsense temperaments these two species are often mistaken for each other. Although the buzzing sound of a gopher snakes tail vibrating against the ground sounds nearly identical to the vibration of a rattlesnakes actual rattle gopher snakes lack the rattle found.
Take a look at some of the links and information here to help you learn how to know if a snake is a rattlesnake or a gophersnake. Their common name gopher snake refers to their taste for gophers. Rattlesnake vs gopher snake.
How do i tell a gopher snake from a rattlesnake. Gopher snakes are often longer than rattlesnakes.
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