Gopher snake photographed with iPhone 15 Pro on a walk

Great basin gopher snake.  Photographed in Kelowna, BC, with my iPhone.  

My wife and I were walking our dog last evening about an hour before dusk.  We were strolling casually along a gravel path at a local park and she suddenly turned and exclaimed, "That's a snake."  What we had both assumed was a stick on the ground was actually a three-foot long Gopher snake.  The odd thing was it didn't move.  She actually had to step over it when something triggered a response in her - kind of a shudder actually - when she made her proclamation.

I have come across gopher snakes at least 4 times now.  Each time they have been pretty laid back about the encounter.  Twice they had a prey item they were starting to devour and the other two times they were just sunning themselves (basking).  This one was doing the same, although the sun had been hiding behind clouds.  The warmth of the day was still in the gravel substrate and it was benefiting from the warmth held there.

The great basin gopher snake, photographed above, is a non-venomous snake like the more familiar garter snakes many of you have seen or even captured.  There are six recognized subspecies, three of which occur in Canada.  I have seen all three, one along the Sunshine Coast, one near Drumheller, and at least two in BC's interior (another in Washington State around Leavenworth).  Each subspecies is geographically isolated from the others by distance and mountains.

Gopher snakes are beneficial reptiles.  They prey on rodents and are often found near water bodies where they may catch fish.  If you see one, leave it alone and let it get back to what it was doing.  Although they are non-venomous, gopher snakes will bite.  Like all snakes, they also carry Salmonella and washing your hands is a good idea if you come into contact with one.  

I got some nice photos of this one; I have to admire the beautiful patterns along its body.  I think it had recently shed its skin as the scales were bright and a little glossy.  What an amazing encounter!

Thanks for reading. 

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com

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