General Distribution
The gopher snake is California's most widespread and common snake. Locally very
abundant, gopher snakes are found thoughout California, including the Channel Islands,
absent only from the high mountains of the Sierra Nevada. Wide-ranging and common,
gopher snakes are found in all habitat types, generally absent only from densely forested
stages and from elevations over 2130 (7000 ft) in the Sierra Nevada. Habitat Requirements
When inactive, gopher snakes seek cover in rodent burrows and under surface
objects such as flat rocks, logs, and boards. At high elevations with long cold winters,
individuals hibernate, often with other species of snakes, in rodent burrows and in deep rock
fissures. Reproduction
Clutch sizes range from 3 to 18 and average about 7 or 8. Eggs are
deposited in June and July after the courtship period, which extends from March to May.
Communal nesting has been reported (Brodie et al. 1969). Hatchlings emerge in the fall and
may not feed until the next spring. Daily/Seasonal Activity
Gopher snakes may be active on the surface whenever temperatures
are favorable. During the cooler periods of spring and fall most activity occurs mid-day, but
when summer days are hot most activity is restricted to early morning and late evening hours.
Predictable seasonal movements have not been reported
for ths species in California. In Utah, however, gopher snakes make annual movements to
and from known hibernacula (Parker and Brown 1973). It is probable that this also occurs at
inland montane localities in California. Over much of the rest of their range in California,
gopher snakes spend periods of winter inactivity in or near the areas of their warm-season
activity. Diet and Foraging
Adults take chiefly mammals and birds while foraging in mammal burrows, on
the ground, or in shrubs. Stebbins (1954) listed mice, kangaroo rats, gophers, ground
squirrels, rabbits, quail and ducks and their eggs as among the food items reported for gopher
snakes. Juveniles take young mice and small lizards. Prey is killed by constriction. Territoriality/Home Range
The nature of the home range of California gopher snakes is not well
known. In southern Idaho, Diller (1981) estimated gopher snake density at 1.3 snakes per ha
(.52/ac). The nature of territoriality in this species is unknown. "Combat" between males
has been observed during the breeding season, sometimes in the presence of females
(Hansen 1950, Shaw 1951). Predator-Prey Relations
Because of their activity patterns and abundance, gopher snakes are taken by a
wide range of predators including mammals, predatory birds, especially hawks, and other
snakes. Literature Cited
Brodie, E. D., Jr., R. A. Nussbaum, and R. M. Storm. 1969. An egg-laying aggregation of
five species of Oregon reptiles. Herpetologica 25:223-227.
Diller, L. V. 1981. Comparative ecology of Great Basin rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis
lutosus) and Great Basin gopher snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus deserticola) and their
impact on small mammal populations in the Snake River Birds of Prey Natural Area.
Ph.D. Disser. Univ. Idaho, Moscow. 89pp.
Gordon, K. 1939. The Amphibia and Reptilia of Oregon. Oreg. State Monogr., Studies in
Zool. No. 1. 82pp.
Hansen, R. M. 1950. Sexual behavior in two male gopher snakes. Herpetologica 6:120.
Kardong, K. V. 1980. Gopher snakes and rattlesnakes: Presumptive Batesian mimicry.
Northwest. Science 54:1-4.
Nussbaum, R. A., E. D. Brodie, Jr., and R. M. Storm. 1983. Amphibians and reptiles of the
Pacific Northwest. Univ. Press of Idaho. 332pp.
Parker, W. S., and W. S. Brown. 1973. Species composition and population changes in
two complexes of snake hibernacula in northern Utah. Herpetologica 29:319-326.
Parker, W. S., and W. S. Brown. 1980. Comparative ecology of two colubrid snakes,
Masticophis t. taeniatus and Pituophis melanoleucus deserticola in northern Utah.
Milwaukee Pub. Mus. Pub. Biol. and Geol. No. 7. 104pp.
Shaw, C. E. 1951. Male combat in American colubrid snakes with remarks on combat in
other colubrid and elapid snakes. Herpetologica 7:149-168.
Stebbins, R. C. 1954. Amphibians and reptiles of western North America. McGraw-Hill,
New York. 536pp.
Information gathered from California DFG - California Interagency Wildlife Task Group
