The Sonoran Gopher Snake is a heavy-bodied snake that occupies a wide variety of terrain in Arizona, from sand dunes at or near sea level to pine/oak subdivisions at over 8,000 feet in elevation. Hatchlings are around 11 inches (280mm), and at maturity can exceed 7 feet (2133mm) in length (although rarely). Sometimes pugnacious in demeanor, these snakes will exhibit gaping behavior, and are capable of exuding explosive hissing upon the approach of any would-be predator. This behavior, coupled with tail vibration and a superficial resemblance to rattlesnakes, often leads to the demise of the snake at the hands of humans who feel they are removing a venomous species of snake from wild or urban haunts. Prey items include, but are not limited to, lizards, snakes, bird eggs, birds and small mammals. Living prey items are dispatched by constriction.

Some personal observations: A pair kept in captivity bred in late April, the female laid 12 eggs in mid-June, ten of which hatched on 8-19-95. The other two eggs appear to have been slugs. Reproductive behaviors in the wild may or may not be similar. This author has three times seen young Gopher Snakes exhibit "lay and wait" ambush strategies, where the snake lays sprawled out, its body nearly straight behind it, and its head pointing at or slightly in the edge of a small rodent burrow. The longest this posture has been observed was slightly over 14 hours with one individual snake. This author has seen a defensive posture assumed by retreating snakes, whereby the snake lifts its head from the ground, and cocks its neck at a 45 degree angle towards its aggressor, while offering as much of a broadside view as possible while fleeing. This author's observations within the 100 mile circle have the species pegged from 1800 feet to over 6,000 feet, although the encounters above 6,000 feet are scarce (as is the presence of this author). This author has seen foraging Gopher Snakes during every month of the year, although the rare sightings from November through February are usually sub-adults. Peak activity periods are late April through May, with huge numbers encountered in August and early September—mainly hatchlings. Lastly, this species is my most commonly observed non-venomous snake in our area. Perhaps this is a result of their comparatively large egg clutches coupled with their ability to rapidly increase in size.

Crother et al., 2000 designate the standard English name as Sonoran Gopher Snake.

by Roger A. Repp
Originally published in the Sonoran Herpetologist "Herpetofauna of the 100-mile Circle" 15 (12) 2002

photo by
Erik F. Enderson

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