Comments on: Rattlesnake vs. Gopher Snake: Can you & your kids tell the difference?

By: Russell Bales

Russell Bales — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 20:08:47 +0000

I find the best way to identify is by the tail.
A gopher snake has a definitely pointed tail and the rattlesnake, even if its rattler is not present, the tail is more “blunt”.
I find gopher snakes in my yard about once a year. So far none has evidenced any aggression, They just crawl to cover, unhurriedly.
No rattlesnakes have been seen in my yard for about six or seven years.
Escondido, California

By: Sue S.

Sue S. — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:49:51 +0000

We just found a coiled baby rattler in our neighbor yesterday, 4/15/2012. This website really helped us identify the snake. It looked exactly like the 4th picture even though the snake was tiny and only had one button. The head was what I call an equilateral triangle not a slim triangle like the gopher snake. I would also call it “chubby cheeks”. The rattler head is also very flat like it got smashed. The color of the head was also all one color brown. It was too hard to tell if it was “thin” or the shape of the eyes. The end of the tail was a little stubby not slim and pointed like the gopher snake. To me, the pattern down the back of the rattler is very diamond shaped until the rings at the end of the tail, compared to the gopher snake which has similar markings but has a more blotchy pattern on the back. This is kind of subtle but helpful from a distance. I think the easiest identification is the head. The rattler really has a flat head like an equal sided triangle.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 19:41:45 +0000

How do you tell the babies apart,they look so similar and I don’t want to get close enough to see their eyes.

By: David

David — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:46:58 +0000

Very nice article. I operate a snake removal service in the here in the Bay Area and would say roughly one half of my “rattlesnake calls” are in fact gopher snakes. Most of the time property owners are ok with leaving gopher snakes there after learning of the benefits they offer.

Got Snakes?
Humane Rattlesnake Removal & Consultation
(925) 997-3730
http://www.gotsnakes.org
Serving the San Francisco Bay area

Sorry for the shameless plug!

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:21:51 +0000

Gary, left for work today & a few steps outside of my door was an 8″ snake that looked like a rattler. I didn’t check for a rattle because it started moving sideways with its head elevated a few inches off the ground (like a cobra) with its mouth wide open as it was moving. Obviously it was a baby & I frightened it as much as it did me. I went for a shoe on the porch but turned back & it was gone into the shrubs. Didn’t pay attention to the shape of its eyes. Do bullsnakes raise their head with mouths open in defense?

By: komron

komron — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 09:38:16 +0000

ATTENTION, PLEASE!
You will not believe but its true!
There will be sold the natural snake crown!
This was considered as the symbol of power and wisdom to our ancesstors.
In details, only for those who are interested!

By: Gary Bogue

Gary Bogue — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:19:58 +0000

Karol Gallucci: Baby rattlesnakes still have a rattle. The rattle is smaller, just a single button on very young rattlesnakes. Gopher snakes have NO rattles and their tails come down to a sharp point. You can go online to http://www.google.com and do a search for baby rattlesnakes and another search for baby gopher snakes. You’ll find photos and can get a good look at what they look like./Gary

By: Gary Bogue

Gary Bogue — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:05:09 +0000

Jan Crown: the Claycord.com Web site has already changed the labeling on that photo to reflect that is is indeed a gopher snake and NOT a rattlesnake. Yes, it is a beautiful gopher snake. /Gary

By: Jan Crown

Jan Crown — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:52:35 +0000

Dear Gary, there is a post on Claycord.com that has raised some questions:

http://claycord.blogspot.com/2009/10/rattle-snake-black-diamond-mines.html

The snake in question has been labelled a rattlesnake. I think it’s a gopher snake. What say you? Could you post your answer on Claycord for all of us to see and learn?

Thanks so much

By: Karol Gallucci

Karol Gallucci — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:52:56 +0000

I live in the South Bay, but just encountered a baby snake this weekend in my steel building in Red Bluff, an area known for rattlesnakes. This is my first encounter, and although I was shaking in my boots, I took the time to look at it (from a distance). I’ve never seen a rattler, let alone a baby, but this snake seemed skinny (body and head) and the markings just didn’t look quite the same. He did rear his head immediately and curled up, but was just as happy to go off in another direction when he got over being scared of me. I didn’t kill him, but now I’m worried since he may still be in the building. I opened all the doors hoping he’d go out. How do I tell the difference beteen the snakes when they are babies? (We’re going up again soon so I may encounter him again). Thanks.