Scales: Keeled

Anal Plate: Single

One of the larger ground dwelling snakes of West Texas. This subspecies is found throughout West Texas, Western half of New Mexico, most of Arizonia, Southern corner of Nevada and Southeast California. They inhabit dry desert grasslands with mesquite and creosote bushes (Dixon Werler 2000). Like their common name implies, Gopher Snakes prey on mostly ground dwelling rodents & lagomorphs, they will also take birds and eggs as well. Gopher, Bull and Pine snakes have the loudest hiss of any North American serpent. When confronted, they hiss, strike and vibrate their tail. Gopher and Bull Snakes are diurnal and are active mornings and late afternoons.

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