GRRRR- Get Rattled Rattlesnake Rescue & Relocation

The Pituophis catenifer deserticola, commonly known as the Great Basin gopher snake, is a non-venomous colubrid native to the arid regions of the western United States. 

This subspecies of gopher snake is known for its impressive mimicry of rattlesnakes—flattening its head, hissing loudly, and vibrating its tail when threatened—despite being completely harmless to humans. 

Typically tan or yellowish with dark brown blotches, it blends seamlessly into desert and sagebrush habitats. 

An important part of the ecosystem, the gopher snake helps control rodent populations and is often encountered by hikers or homeowners during warmer months. 

Contrary to popular belief (and that one guy on Facebook), Nevada doesn’t have bullsnakes—nope, not a one! 

What we do have is the Great Basin gopher snake, a master of disguise who’s often mistaken for its more Midwestern cousin. 

To find bullsnakes, you'll have to head east of the Rocky mountain range (the large pink section on the map above).

Bullsnakes and gopher snakes are not exactly the same, but they are closely related. 

• Both are part of the same species: Pituophis catenifer (the gopher snake).
   
• Bullsnakes are a subspecies of gopher snake: Pituophis catenifer sayi.
   
• Great Basin gopher snakes (the ones we have in Nevada) are another subspecies: Pituophis catenifer deserticola.
   

So, it's kind of like calling every square a rectangle, but not every rectangle a square. 

All bullsnakes are gopher snakes, but not all gopher snakes are bullsnakes.

In short: They’re cousins in the snake family tree—but bullsnakes are found more in the central U.S., and gopher snakes (like ours in Nevada) rule the West!