dbsneed69 said:Usually, in the US, non-venomous snakes have a round pupil. Venomous snakes have an elliptical pupil (coral snakes are an exception).
That's the quick reference that I use if I am trying to make an on-site determination.
Maixx said:Looks like a bull maybe a gopher snake.
But until your absolutely sure, treat it like a viper.
If it is a bull, this is something you want in your yard, they hunt and eat rattlers.
I tried to upload a pic but it failed, just search bull snake and there are a ton of good images on google.
Madkins007 said:Just for clarification...
- Bullsnakes, gopher snakes, and pine snakes are the same species (Pituophis catenefer) with regional coloration and names. They keep changing their mind about how they are related. Currently, the Gopher is the main species, bull is a subspecies, and pine, if I understand things correctly, is a regional variation. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullsnake)
- Neither bullsnakes nor gopher snakes eat rattlers. I believe you are thinking of the Kingsnake (Lampropeltis species). One of the coolest kingsnakes is the California kingsnake (L. getula californiae). Kingsnakes eat other snakes primarily- although they do not especially seek out rattlers. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lampropeltis_getula_californiae )
As a long-time field herpper and nature center volunteer, I know how easy it is to get this sort of thing mixed up, so I hope this helps!
Maixx said:Very cool.
Sorry for passing bad info about them eating rattlers, I had read something (don't remember where) about people killing these because they resembled rattlers, and that they actually control rattled populations in areas. The quote I remember most was "if you have bull snakes in your yard you shouldn't have rattlers"
I knew there are types of snakes that eat other snakes, mainly Kings, but also drymarchon. So it didn't sound too unusual that gophers might also eat other snakes (rattlers).
Momof4 said:I'm freaking out! Is this a gopher or rattle. I live in San Diego. He's 6". So tiny.