Snake identification?

[Greg]

We ran across this big guy this weekend in Southern UT... anyone here have some idea as to what it is? No rattles, it wasn't aggressive or anything and was probably 4' long. I'm curious to know what it is, I think it's a Gopher Snake? It was sunning itself in the road... and took up most of it.

 

[4554x4]

If I saw it it would be a dead one.

 

[richpblaze]

Gopher Snake

Very common through out the west

http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/july/papr/gophersnake.html

 

[RustEoldtrux]

Bull snake?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...pictures&aq=1&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=bull+sn&gs_rfai=

 

[muleskinner]

I think it's a Gopher Snake?

Yep. Great for keeping the mice in check. They will strike and hiss at you, but they wont hurt you. I always relocate them in the brush when I see them.

 

[mesha]

My grandpas snake identification rules.
#1 if it bites you and you die it is poisonous.
#2 pretty much opposite of rule #1

 

[Greg]

Thanks guys, that satisfies my curiosity. It didn't seem a threat, but I opted to leave him be.

It was neat to see it, probably the biggest snake I've come across in the desert. Out where it was, there was plenty to eat... lots of prairie dogs, chipmunks, squirrels, etc. Probably a good reason why he's the size he is! We did also spot a coyote, he probably would have loved to have snacked on that snake.

 

[jackjoh]

It looks more like a Bull then a Gopher but it is hard to tell in pictures since they are both Colubrids. They are a main course for Coyotes.

 

[bryson]

My grandpas snake identification rules.
#1 if it bites you and you die it is poisonous.
#2 pretty much opposite of rule #1

 

[LT.]

I know that it is a little too late but just a heads up. If a snake has round pupils it is not poisonous. If the pupil is like a cats eye, long narrow slit, then it is poisonous. Now comes the tricky part. Getting close enough to see the eyes without getting bit.

LT.

 

[bryson]

I know that it is a little too late but just a heads up. If a snake has round pupils it is not poisonous. If the pupil is like a cats eye, long narrow slit, then it is poisonous. Now comes the tricky part. Getting close enough to see the eyes without getting bit.

LT.

Really? That's good to know.

 

[Tacoma]

King Cobras have round pupils. *gulp

 

[Rot Box]

Cool snake

I like snakes. Its weird because everyone I dirtbike with is hell bent on killing every one that crosses our path but I usually talk them out of it--not sure why they want to maybe its because they are "yucky"

 

[Caleb]

Cool snake

I like snakes. Its weird because everyone I dirtbike with is hell bent on killing every one that crosses our path but I usually talk them out of it--not sure why they want to maybe its because they are "yucky"

Snakes are my enemy. If it's legal in the area I see them at, I shoot them, if it's not legal to shoot them they get ran over/smashed with a rock/etc. Snakes are the worse creature ever...poisonous or not

 

[Cherokeester]

If I saw it it would be a dead one.

Brilliant! Lets just kill every snake we see. Leave them alone and walk away if you don't like them.

 

[utah340six]

i hate snake makes my skin crawl.
but we have and under standing.
dont bother me and i wont kill them.
they can sure scare the hell out of you.

 

[Zombie]

I know that it is a little too late but just a heads up. If a snake has round pupils it is not poisonous. If the pupil is like a cats eye, long narrow slit, then it is poisonous. Now comes the tricky part. Getting close enough to see the eyes without getting bit.

LT.

As tacoma mentioned, cobras have round pupils, and my pythons that I used to have had cat eye pupils... this wives tale just don't work.

I vote for leaving them alone and letting them either eat vermin, or feed bigger critters. Snakes eat mice and rats, which eat the things that we use to make food.... so what's better to have overpopulated, the thing that is creepy, and doesn't eat what you eat, or the thing that is cute and fuzzy, eats what you eat, and quite literally pees EVERYWHERE it goes?

 

[Caleb]

Brilliant! Lets just kill every snake we see.

Sounds like a perfect idea!

 

[DAA]

Snakes "mostly" don't bother me. Sometimes they do though.

Jumped out of my truck and almost stepped right on this rattler a few years ago. Gave me a pretty good little scare for a second, but no harm no foul, so even though I was armed to the teeth, after I got doen playing with him, he got a pass...

- DAA

 

[PolarXJ]

Thats a cool video DAA