The Art of Deception: Which Animal Does the Best Rattlesnake Impression?
Greetings!
Welcome to summer! It’s official now that we’ve passed June 21. My daughter is off with her partner to the 2023 Fiddlefest in Weiser, Idaho. No, neither she nor her partner plays the fiddle but going and helping out is an annual family tradition for her partner’s family. They had a blast last year and it sounds like all is going well so far this year.
As for our start of summer activity, we are finally having our back deck replaced with Trex decking. After falling through in three places due to rotting wood, it was definitely time! So far, the new foundation is almost completed. I’ll eventually share some before and after pictures.
This Week
My eighteen-year-old daughter graduated with her AA from our local community college last Thursday. She completed with “highest honors” which means over a 3.8 GPA. We are super proud of her and excited that she will be living away from home for the first time to take advantage of a great internship opportunity this fall while starting her gap year. After that, she plans on earning a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies. At least, that’s the current plan. She’s a STEM girl and proud of it!
On the animal front, I recently got a super rare shot of all of our furry kids hanging out together.
What About…?
Gopher Snakes
“Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?”
- Indiana Jones, Raiders of the Lost Ark
It had to be snakes because tons of people are afraid of or creeped out by snakes, so it’s super relatable when even tough guy even Indiana Jones hates snakes. (See Why Do We Fear Snakes, Spiders, and Other Relatively Harmless Creatures?) As for why I’m covering snakes, specifically gopher snakes, it’s because as far as underappreciated creatures go, they are high on the list.
Gopher snakes are one of the most widespread and common snake species in North America. They are found from coast to coast in the U.S., into southern Canada and northern Mexico. For such a ubiquitous creature, it doesn't seem like we hear or read that much about them. What have we been missing?
There are nine subspecies including the Great Basin gopher snake, bull snake, and the San Diego gopher snake. Some geographic regions call gopher snakes pine snakes or bull snakes.
The average length is around 4 feet (1.2 m) but gopher snakes have been known to reach up to 9 feet (2.7 m).
Gopher snakes are named because they often live in the dens of gophers or other burrowing animals.
Gopher snakes are most frequently tan or cream-colored with dark brown or black splotches with a lighter underbelly, also with dark spots. There is a dark diagonal stripe that runs from each eye toward the back of the jaw on most gopher snakes.
Here comes the really interesting part: Gopher snakes are non-venomous but they do a great rattlesnake impression. This defense mechanism includes flattening its head to mimic the more triangular rattlesnake head, curling its body into the S of a rattlesnake including keeping its head off the ground, loudly hissing and rattling its tail like a rattlesnake, which when done in dry grass or leaves, makes a very convincing rattling sound.
Gopher snakes have round pupils rather than a rattlesnake’s vertical, slitted ones. I absolutely would not get close enough to make that determination if I heard a rattling sound.
Gopher snakes have long tapered tails as compared to rattlesnakes’ ringed, stubby tails, which may or may not have a rattle on the end, depending on age.
Sonoran gopher snake - note the round pupil and tapered tail. Image by Claudio Cantú Muñiz.
Gopher snakes are constrictors whose main food sources are small mammals. People often mistakenly kill them thinking they are rattlesnakes which is unfortunate, in part because they are important for rodent control.
When first hatched, gopher snakes are generally 12-18 inches long.
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Best Trivia Tidbit
Gopher snakes are the only snakes with a vocal chord. They are also the only known animal to have a single vocal cord, rather than a pair. This allows them to make a loud bellowing sound when threatened and also to have one of, if not the, loudest hisses of all snakes.
Consider simply making someone smile this weekend and be sure to show yourself some kindness, too.
Peace,
Dakota Duncan
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Speaking of snakes, did you know I wrote a children’s adventure book about one? This is a fun summer read with some educational elements, too. Check it out on my website: dakotaduncan.com or click on the book image below to go directly to Amazon.com.
Congrats to your daughter! And thanks for the info about gopher snakes. So many snakes are good/helpful and wrongfully killed. Our landscaper found a clutch of snake eggs in the mulch today, and he left them undisturbed. We have a smart landscaper!