The Pacific Gopher Snake measures 3.9-6.8 feet as an adult. The snake comes in colors of tan, brown, or yellow with darker spots running down its back. The Pacific Gopher Snake kills its prey by constriction. They are also good burrowers, climbers and swimmers. Identifying characteristics are heavily keeled scales and a narrow head. Some people mistake Pacific Gopher Snake for a rattlesnake because of its similar characteristics.

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Pacific Gopher snake's role in the food web is that it eats small adult mice or large adult mice also baby rats and bird eggs. Pacific Gopher Snakes have a large variety of food. What allows Pacific Gopher Snakes to compete for food is predators. The Pacific Gopher Snake's predators are hawks,small mammals and even humans. Pacific Gopher Snakes compete with hawks and small mammals for food. The animals that would eat the Pacific Gopher Snake are hawks. The way Pacific Gopher Snakes evade being killed is by blending into the environment they live in.

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This snake's habitat is desert areas, woodlands, grasslands, and farmland. Pacific Gopher Snakes are well suited for the ecosystem they live in because they blend in and there is a lot of prey for them to eat. These snakes can be found in northern California into Oregon.

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There is a standard amount of Pacific Gopher Snakes. The Pacific Gopher Snake's population is maintaining a standard amount. Humans contribute to the population decreasing in some areas.

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Some things that stood out about the Pacific Gopher Snake are that it kills its prey by constriction and that they live in many environments. I find it interesting that it kills its prey by constriction and that it is found in a lot of places. And how people mistake this snake for a rattlesnake.

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Author: Finn T

Published: 03/2010

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Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Gopher_Snake http://www.kingsnake.com/pituophis/care_group7.html http://www.bcreptiles.ca/snakes/grtbasingopher.htm

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Photo Credit: Patrick Briggs http://www.freewebs.com/slitherbriggs/