Gopher Snakes in Utah

Pituophis catenifer, better known as the gopher snake, is not only one of Utah's largest snakes but also one of the largest in North America. It is a common nonvenomous species, although it will try to convince enemies that it is a rattlesnake. It coils like a rattlesnake and rattles its tail even though it does not possess a noise-making rattle.

  1. Description

    • The gopher snake is a large thick-bodied species that grows to an average length of 6 to 9 feet. The color is gray to straw, with darker brown to black blotches all along the length. Compared to most other snakes of similar length, the gopher snake has a large head and large eyes. Most individuals have a noticeable black line across the face in front of the eyes and lines running from the backs of the eyes to the jawline.

    Habitat and Range

    • The gopher snake is found across the state in a variety of habitats. The snake's adaptability is the key to its widespread range. It can thrive in woodlands, prairies, deserts and shrublands as well as in agricultural areas such as cultivated fields. The species is found in moist environments, although it prefers prairies and other dryer places.

    Hunting, Diet and Predators

    • The gopher snake is a constrictor, meaning that it coils its body around its prey and squeezes the air from its lungs. In some areas the main food source for the species is gophers, hence its common name. It also feeds on other small mammals, lizards, birds and smaller snakes. The snake is known to track prey animals back to their burrow and follow them underground. The snake does not have venom as protection, so any number of large predators can make a meal of it. Hawks, foxes and coyotes are all common predators.

    Life Cycle

    • The gopher snake is a solitary species and only meets to breed. Mating season usually runs from June to August, with females producing one to two clutches of eggs per year. A male mates with as many females as it can track down. The female lays between 2 and 24 eggs that hatch 65 to 75 days later. Once the eggs are laid, the female leaves and offers no further parental care. In the wild, the gopher snake lives 12 to 15 years, but individuals in captivity have lived to be as old as 33.