The Desert’s Best Impostor (Snake Encounters Pt. 2)

In my previous blog, I mentioned two snakes I had recently encountered in my yard. The first was a baby Western diamondback rattlesnake. Today, I want to introduce you to the second snake: a Sonoran gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer affinis).

A few days after my dog stepped on the baby rattler, I ran across a gopher snake stretched out in my driveway, right where I turn to go into my garage. I was delighted to get some good video of the encounter! This particular gopher snake was an excellent example of how this species tries to mimic rattlesnakes to survive, perfectly imitating everything from the pattern design to the facial markings.

(Check out the video of my driveway encounter)

 

Making Sense of Social Media Comments

When I shared the video on my Facebook page, the reactions were certainly a mixed bag.

Some of the comments were wonderfully positive and appreciative of the snake’s role in our ecosystem:

• “I want more of those, fewer of the neighbor we met the other day who carries his own instruments! Pretty pattern. Can be a good helper.”
• “He’s just patrolling for mice and pack rats for ya…great snake to have around!!”
• “It’s a good snake. They r so sweet!”
• “Looks like a bull snake; good to have around; they eat a lot of rodents and also kill rattlesnakes.” (And yes, they absolutely can!)

Sadly, there are always people who are uncomfortable just seeing snake videos:

• “It creeps me out just seeing it on the page here.”
• “We love all the non-venomous snakes on our property. Unfortunately we also have the Rattlers…yikes!” (I will kindly pass on that introduction…)

Then, there were the somewhat strange and wildly inaccurate misidentifications:

• “That’s a cotton mouth snake. I believe very, very dangerous. I hope you have a black snake on your property. That’s how you get rid of Em. Or at the other end of a shotgun, do not let that thing hang around, especially if you have a dog or a cat that goes for the black snake too. They eat everything.”

Let’s clear this up: Cottonmouths are not found in Arizona. Cottonmouths, also called water moccasins (Agkistrodon piscivorus), are semiaquatic vipers found in the southeastern United States. Their native range ends in central Texas. I knew several personally when I lived in Houston, and I can assure you that all our interactions were perfectly friendly!

The Master of Rattlesnake Mimicry

I am endlessly fascinated by the gopher snake’s mimicry of rattlesnakes. Looking like a venomous snake when you are actually harmless is a brilliant way to deter predators.

First off, their physical pattern strongly resembles the Western diamondback rattlesnake, both on their body and their head. In addition to their looks, when a gopher snake feels threatened, it will try to match the defensive behaviors of a rattler. A frightened gopher snake can coil up, hiss loudly, and rapidly vibrate the end of its tail in the dry brush to sound exactly like a rattle! Since both species cohabit the Sonoran Desert ecosystem, this mimicry is incredibly effective at fooling predators (and sometimes humans).

Fortunately, there is plenty of prey to go around in the desert. Both species have similar diets consisting of small mammals, birds, and other reptiles. However, they have very different hunting styles: rattlesnakes use venom to subdue their meals, while gopher snakes constrict their prey. Interestingly, gopher snakes will even prey on young rattlers! For this reason alone, many humans are absolutely thrilled to have them hanging around the yard.

Are your kids fascinated by the incredible animals that call the desert home? Keep the learning going! Explore the wild wonders of Arizona with my Sonoran Desert Animal Workbooks. Packed with fun facts, educational activities, and coloring pages, it’s the perfect way to bring the science of the desert right into your home!