Also seen in Nevada


On my last day in Nevada, I encountered this critter slithering across the trail while I walked the dikes at Henderson Bird Preserve.  He was brown and gold and five feet long!

From a distance he didn’t look like a rattlesnake, but I carefully examined his head and tail.  (Binoculars are so useful!)  No rattles, no diamond-shaped head.  I felt fairly sure he wasn’t venomous so I got a little closer than this to take his picture.

Later I showed my cellphone photo to a Bird Preserve volunteer who told me he’s a gopher snake.  The snake wouldn’t hurt me as long as I didn’t mess with him.

No chance of that!

Click here for a close-up of a gopher snake.

(photo by Kate St. John)

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