Bluffing juvenile Pacific gopher snake

            Found this little gopher snake (maybe 18") basking in the bike lane of a County Road. Given the number of run-over snakes I see in the bike lane (which, to me, makes it look like a deliberate act), I decided to relocate it to the fields just off the road.  It wasn't particularly pleased about the prospect of losing its warm basking spot, or possibly being eaten by a giant, so it put on its best "I'm a huge, vicious rattlesnake" act (flattening its head and vibrating its tail -- unfortunately there were no dry leaves on the road to make it sound like a rattlesnake).  If it survives to adulthood, it will provide amazing rodent-control.

It was getting close to sunset, so the lighting was a bit challenging, especially for "phone-tography."

Taken in: United States / California / Webster (show map)

Taken on: April 7, 2022

Tags:

Gopher snake

Pacific gopher snake

bull snake

colubrid

non-venomous

reptile

snake

wildlife « less

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