I went for a hike with one of my favorite humans today and found this little darling sunning themselves on a popular trail. I decided to move them off the path as there were a LOT of bikes whizzing by, and they were so polite! No hissing, no musking, no bites!
@snake-spotted I thought you'd appreciate my new friend too!
I found a beautiful snake shed in my back yard today! I’m pretty darn sure that it’s a gopher snake skin, but I’m bringing it to my ecology professor to verify. Pacific gopher snakes have similar coloring to Mojave Desert native rattlesnakes, and their markings often get them mistaken for a rattlesnake. The biggest difference: gopher snakes have square blocks that form stripes and rattlesnakes have the telltale diamond pattern along their back. It doesn’t look much like my rattlesnake skin, but it’s always better to double check!
Went to do some work out in the yard and just about stepped on this big gopher snake on the hill. It was happy to slither home once I had finished up. Pretty cold today but it minded its manners and only hissed at me a little bit.
May 23, 2018
could u please help me identify whose mans this is? i accidentally stepped on them in my backyard a few years back but ur wild snake pic reminded me i never figured out what kind of snake they were
that's a beautiful gopher snake! i'm no snake expert, but i'm guessing this fellow is a pacific gopher snake--- it's possible that he's a bullsnake. I'm not good at distinguishing between the sub-species. They're not venomous and mostly eat gophers. They're not known for being aggressive, although i've had a few snap at me. It's more common for them to fake-rattle. They try to mimic rattlesnakes. Since they don't have proper rattles, they have to shake their tail against dead leaves, sticks, and dirt. They're just doing their best.
California is home to dozens of snake varieties, including several venomous species. Identifying the region’s snakes requires knowledge of their appearance and natural habitat. Many California snakes are not endangered, and some varieties are popular household pets.
The California mountain kingsnake is a banded and nonvenomous variety found across the state. Kingsnakes gained their name from their ability to eat other snakes. They live in varying ecosystems and eat a variety of small reptiles and mammals.
Domesticated kingsnakes eat mice. These snakes reach up to 4 feet in length and live up to 15 years. Due to their tail rattling when threatened, they often are mistaken for rattlesnakes. Kingsnakes have muted coloration, such as brown and cream or black and yellow. However, domestic breeding practices have resulted in striking color patterns, including bright orange.
The coachwhip is another snake breed commonly found in California. These snakes prefer hot, dry landscapes, so they are commonly found in the desert. Coachwhips have a speckled appearance and often come in shades of red, silver, and tan, with flecks of black. The snakes are easily recognized by their tails, which are tightly coiled and tapered. Coachwhips are common sights on roadways on sunny days. The snakes bite if aggravated but are not aggressive or venomous.
The Pacific gopher snake, named for its propensity to consume rodents, can imitate a rattlesnake when on the defensive. Its markings also are similar to the diamond pattern on rattlesnakes. However, gopher snakes are noticeably thinner with more reflective scales. These snakes have adapted well to humans and can be found in gardens and other habitats. They can grow up to 5 feet long and live up to 20 years in captivity.
The Northern Pacific rattlesnake is a venomous snake common in the Northwest. Its patterns are dull and earth-toned for better camouflage. These snakes can live up to three decades. Unlike the gopher snake and coachwhip, Northern Pacific rattlesnakes are nocturnal. Instead, they hunt rodents and smaller reptiles.
Rattlesnakes live in a variety of habitats, from deserts to grasslands and forests. They are best known for the rattling sound they make by vibrating the end of their tails. The snake's rattle gains a new layer each time it sheds its skin. The rattles eventually can break off, so a rattle’s length is not accurately indicating the snake’s age.
Although rattlesnakes are not endangered, they often are killed unnecessarily due to their frightening reputation. While rattlesnakes are venomous, they are not aggressive. Rattlesnake bites are medical emergencies but rarely fatal. The best way to avoid a rattlesnake bite is to stay clear of the snake’s vicinity since its striking distance is usually less than 2 feet.
Three of the eight reptiles on California's endangered species list are snakes. The worm-line Southern Rubber Boa is only found around the mountains of San Bernardino and San Jacinto. It lives in forested areas where it can find natural hiding spots amongst dead logs. The Alameda Striped Racer is mostly found in Central California. It is patterned with bold bright yellow and orange stripes. While racers are not poisonous, they become aggressive if threatened. Finally, Giant Garter Snakes make their home in wetlands and rice fields. As their name suggests, they are much larger than the average garter snake and can grow more than five feet long.
2021 White-sided Pacific Gopher Snake female. Winry is eating frozen thawed rodents, has a sweet disposition and weighs 28 grams. As always these are photos of the actual snake available. Email us at [email protected] or call 682-414-0013. Payment plans, Credit/Debit Cards, Cash App, PayPal Venmo, Zelle, and shipping are available. Kingwood, Texas. $250.00. All sales are final.
This situation had a happy ending, but it could very easily have been a tragedy and I avoided talking about it until I knew which way we were heading.
This little gopher snake was caught on a glue trap at my work a few weeks ago. They managed to get themselves caught by the head and tail with their mid-body wrapped around the leg of a storage rack that was too heavy to lift, so the only way to free them was to carefully, carefully peel their tail away from the sticky paper while trying to keep them from panicking and entangling themselves further. Then once we could move the sticky trap we were able to use dish soap to free the snake from the glue. During this process they struggled against the glue and managed to do some serious and scary damage to the skin on their neck and were not looking like they’d be able to survive. My boss suggested swift euthanasia, but I decided to take them home and treat them to see if they might heal.
Happily, they were very determined to live. They tolerated washing, topical medication, endured the sparse conditions of a hospice enclosure, and enthusiastically took provided meals for the past few weeks with only minor efforts to bite me to death before rewarding my care with a perfect shed and some fresh, healthy skin where their injury was. I was able to return them to the wild today, on the same property where they were caught and far enough away from the building that they’ll hopefully not try to come back inside. They’ll probably always have a small scar as a reminder of the time they got too close to humans.
turquoise: favorite sea animal?
hm, manta rays are pretty cool. So are otters and hump back whales!
beige: have any pets? what're their names?
Yes! Four, technically.
Two cats: Ink 13yr old female tuxie who is v spicy, Noodle 3yr old female egyptian mau tabby mis who is super soft and spunky;
One dog: Vivienne 13yr old Shih Tzu
One Snake: Kaa, 25yr old pacific gopher snake/ bull snake gender unknown this lives with my brother atm cause we don’t have space for a whole ass snake cage where I live right now
I want another cat so Noodle has someone to play with since Ink is super solitary. When Noodle tries to play, Ink gives the hardest of hard NOPE’s.
claret: do you play an instrument? do you want to learn to play any?
Nope, and nope. Writing and drawing are enough of a challenge.
lavender: relationship status?
Living my best life in a queer relationship with my bi partner who accepts my pan gender fluid self. :> We’re both welcome to see other people but I don’t feel any great need to have secondary partners at the moment, maybe ever. I’m just...really happy where I am.
coconut: a subject you enjoy learning about
Art , writing, storytelling, and storyboarding cause they’re my job, but it’s also intimidating/discouraging cause it makes me feel like I’ll never get to the spot ability wise that I need or want to be.
if we’re talking pure academia: astronomy, linguistics, n witchy pagany things.
gold: do you wear your socks mismatched
Absolutely never.
honey: your thoughts on magic- does it exist?
Sure. I’ve been pagan/a witch since I was like 11 or so...and my relationship with it has waxed and waned. I’m hella skeptical of most spiritual things, and this is no exception. I don’t believe in magic without some actual effort on your part. I think you gotta help yourself and magic is something to give a push or pull, or help you get into a certain mindset or make you feel a certain way. Which is good and important.
wine: do you have a 'type'
Nah. If I like someone I like someone. I def had a type when I was younger like in HS, but the older I’ve gotten (31 rn oof) the more I’m like.....MEH who someone is is way more important.
mahogany: your sun, moon, and rising signs
Libra Sun, Capricorn Moon, Scoprio Rising (BONUS: Earth Dragon)
amethyst: do you collect anything?
Yup! Books/comics, bones, crystals, inks, cooking ingredients, socks, boots.
rose quartz: rings or necklaces
Necklaces generally. Tho when I was more outgoing I’d wear both. Now I’m lucky if I put either on when I go out. :,> lmao those covid times amirite?