Gopher Snake vs Western Rattlesnake
Is that a rattlesnake or a harmless gopher snake?
The quick tell
A Gopher Snake is a famous rattlesnake mimic: cornered, it hisses loudly, flattens its head into a triangle, and vibrates its tail in dry leaves to fake a rattle. The honest tell is the tail itself. A rattlesnake ends in a segmented rattle and has a blunt tail; a gopher snake tapers to a plain, pointed tip with no rattle.
Field marks, side by side
| Gopher Snake | Western Rattlesnake | |
|---|---|---|
| Tail | Tapers to a plain, pointed tip - no rattle | Ends in a segmented rattle; tail is blunt |
| Head | Narrow, only flattened when bluffing | Broad, triangular, clearly wider than the neck |
| Pattern | Dark saddle blotches on tan; often a neat, glossy look | Diamond or blotched pattern, often with a dusty finish |
| Build | Long and relatively slender, can exceed 5 ft | Heavier-bodied for its length |
Still not sure which one you found?
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Get Huck - freeCommon questions
Why does my gopher snake rattle and strike like a rattlesnake?
It is pure bluff, and a very good one. Gopher snakes (also called bullsnakes) hiss, flatten the head, coil, and vibrate the tail against dry leaves to sound like a rattler, which scares off predators. They have no venom and no rattle.
What is the surest difference?
The tail. A rattlesnake has an actual segmented rattle and a blunt-ended tail; a gopher snake tapers smoothly to a point. The rattlesnake also has a distinctly broad, triangular head set off from a narrow neck. Check these from a safe distance only.