* Rodents: This includes mice, rats, voles, and even young rabbits.
* Lizards: They'll often prey on lizards like skinks and whiptails.
* Birds: While not as common, they will also eat birds, especially young or injured ones.
* Eggs: Gopher snakes are known to eat bird eggs and occasionally reptile eggs.
* Other Snakes: In some cases, they may prey on smaller snakes.
While they can eat gophers, it's not a primary food source. They may occasionally prey on a gopher if it's available, but their main diet is made up of the other creatures listed above.
It's important to remember that gopher snakes are non-venomous and play a beneficial role in controlling rodent populations. They are not aggressive and are generally shy creatures.