Meet Our Animals

Pacific Gopher Snake

Pituophis melanoleucus catenifer

Names and Personal History:
Speedy: Speedy was found with two of his peers on the runways of the San Francisco Airport. He was rescued by firemen and kept at the station until they donated him to us. Speedy was born in 2003. We have five Pacific Gopher Snakes in total.

Native Habitat:
Pacific Gopher Snakes range from Oregon continuing south through western and central California to Santa Barbara County.

Environment:
These snakes inhabit dry sandy pine-oak woodlands, cultivated fields, prairies, open brush land and rocky desert chaparral. They are generally diurnal but become more nocturnal during the summer months in the warmer parts of their range. They often hide in mammal or tortoise burrows and under rocks or logs.

Physical Characteristics:
Pacific Gopher Snakes are generally straw or straw grey in color. Their dorsal blotches are dark to chocolate brown with their sides generally brown or grey. Their ventral sides may be cream-colored to yellow with dark spots.

Diet:
These snakes typically eat gophers and other rodents. We feed ours mice.