What is the Difference Between a Rattlesnake and a Gopher Snake?

What is the Difference Between a Rattlesnake and a Gopher Snake?

Guest Blog by Eric Trejo, Think Wild Intern

Have you ever come across a gopher or rattlesnake in the wild but couldn’t tell the difference between them? They can look very similar and you may wonder if you’re looking at Central Oregon’s only venomous snake, or if you’re witnessing the mimicry of a gopher snake. You are not alone, so let’s take a look at the differences between these two snakes.

The most obvious difference between these two snakes is that the rattlesnake has a rattle on the end of its tail. The gopher snake does not have a rattle. Although this is a big difference, it can still be hard to see if it has a rattle or not without getting too close. Let’s take a look at some other similarities and differences between these two snakes:

Differences –

• Rattlesnakes are equipped with a rattle at the end of their tail while gopher snakes are not, but they will mimic the rattling to scare off any threat by shaking its tail in the way a rattle snake would. They create the sound of a rattle by rubbing their tail against the ground or dry vegetation.

  

• Rattlesnakes kill and eat their prey using their venomous bite. However, gopher snakes are constrictors, meaning they wrap their bodies around their prey and squeeze them to death.
• Gopher snakes also tend to be more long and slender than a rattlesnake is.
• Size is a big difference between them; an adult gopher snake can reach up to 6-9 feet long but the average is 8 feet for them. The rattlesnake ranges from 3-6 feet depending on the species.
• Rattlesnake eyes  are more dragon-like eyes with long, narrow, slit-like pupils and the gopher snakes have more spherical eyes.
• Another key difference is a gopher snake is non venomous, and while they still may bite you (in defense) it is completely harmless. Rattlesnakes on the other hand, have venom that’s produced in glands located in the snake’s upper jaw. Their venom is a complex mixture of chemicals. A bite is rarely fatal but, if left untreated it can still kill a fully grown adult.
• Difference in color is also a key distinction: a gopher snake is typically brown or tan in color with dark blotches or checker pattern on their back while a rattlesnake is darker in color with a distinct diamond pattern that goes along their back.
• One of the easiest ways to tell a gopher snake apart from a rattlesnake is by looking at the snout. Gopher snakes have a much rounder, blunter snout than rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes have a more pointed and triangular snout.

Similarities – 

• Rattlesnakes and gopher snakes have similar patterns and colors which can confuse people who do not know what distinctions to look for.
• When threatened the rattlesnake and gopher snake will both shake their tail.
• Gopher snakes and rattlesnakes are both found in North and Central America.
• They will both coil up and show their fangs when they feel threatened.
• A gopher snake, when threatened, will flatten its head making it look like a rattlesnake. 

Size –  A rattlesnake can reach up to 3-6 feet long and appear a lot more “heavy set”, with a wider body. The gopher snake can reach up to 6-9 feet, which is a lot longer than rattlesnakes, but they are longer and narrower than the rattlesnake and have a more tapered body.

Habitat –  Rattlesnakes live in deserts, marshes, plains, woodlands, and foothills. They are mostly found in the deserts of the southwestern United States but range from southern Canada to central Argentina. The range of the gopher snake is widespread. They inhabit coniferous forests, brushlands, woodlands, prairies, deserts, and cultivated fields. Geographically, this means they can be found in most states. They are one of the most widespread species in the US.

Diet – The diets between these snakes are a lot different since the gopher snake tends to eat smaller mammals such as rodents and rabbits. Rattlesnakes tend to like birds and lizards as their main food source.

Identifying rattlesnakes and gopher snakes can be difficult if you do not know what to look for. Unfortunately, this lack of information leads harmless gopher snakes to be killed by humans who mistake them for rattlesnakes. To prevent unnecessary deaths of both of these types of snakes, the most important thing you can do when coming across a snake (or any wildlife for that matter) is to give it space. Rattlesnakes bite when they feel threatened. If you give them space and respect them, they have no reason to bite you. 

The next time you’re on a hike and come across one of these snakes, remember to look for those key features to identify which snake you’re seeing, and don’t forget to give them space!