gopher snake
noun
1
: a large, nonvenomous, colubrid snake (Pituophis catenifer) of western and central North America that is a powerful constrictor and is white, tan, yellow, or gray with brown or black squarish blotches see bull snake
Note: The gopher snake was formerly placed in the same species as the pine snake and is sometimes mistakenly identified as a rattlesnake.
2
Examples of gopher snake in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In Hawaii, a gopher snake could threaten the food chain because the species has no natural predators in the state.
—
Rachel Raposas, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024
In Hawaii, a gopher snake could threaten the food chain because the species has no natural predators in the state.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024
Cadden added that after speaking to a Game and Fish expert on reptiles, the slithery creature appeared to be a gopher snake, one of the most common nonvenomous snakes in Arizona.
—Rey Covarrubias Jr., The Arizona Republic, 16 May 2024
Its tail is also wide and blunt, compared to the gopher snake’s thinner, more pointed one.
—Paighten Harkins, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 June 2022
On April 11, Ireland got a call from a family in the San Elijo Hills community of San Marcos, who found a harmless gopher snake trapped in some landscaping fabric behind their fence.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2022
The non-venomous Sonoran gopher snake was a distant runner-up, making up 16% of removals.
—Anton L. Delgado, The Arizona Republic, 13 July 2021
Appointing Watt to head Interior was like finding a gopher snake to guard a nest of baby mice.
—Ted Trueblood, Field & Stream, 29 Nov. 2020
De Niro had to shoot multiple takes with a significantly sized gopher snake.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 9 Oct. 2020
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Rachel Raposas, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024
In Hawaii, a gopher snake could threaten the food chain because the species has no natural predators in the state.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024
Cadden added that after speaking to a Game and Fish expert on reptiles, the slithery creature appeared to be a gopher snake, one of the most common nonvenomous snakes in Arizona.
—Rey Covarrubias Jr., The Arizona Republic, 16 May 2024
Its tail is also wide and blunt, compared to the gopher snake’s thinner, more pointed one.
—Paighten Harkins, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 June 2022
On April 11, Ireland got a call from a family in the San Elijo Hills community of San Marcos, who found a harmless gopher snake trapped in some landscaping fabric behind their fence.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2022
The non-venomous Sonoran gopher snake was a distant runner-up, making up 16% of removals.
—Anton L. Delgado, The Arizona Republic, 13 July 2021
Appointing Watt to head Interior was like finding a gopher snake to guard a nest of baby mice.
—Ted Trueblood, Field & Stream, 29 Nov. 2020
De Niro had to shoot multiple takes with a significantly sized gopher snake.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 9 Oct. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Gopher snake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gopher%20snake. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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