gopher snake

noun

1. a bullsnake, Pituophis melanoleucus, of western North America, that invades burrows to prey on rodents.
2. indigo snake.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gopher snake¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Example Sentences

Downtown's Pershing Square supports mourning doves, Vaux's swifts, gopher snakes and exotic streaktails, a type of fly that feeds on aphids.

From Science Daily

She isn’t likely to see many humans out here, only coyotes and gopher snakes and worse.

From Literature

When it moved, I realized it was actually a 6-foot Pacific gopher snake.

From Seattle Times

Scattered across it were the remains of prey: disarticulated jackrabbit feet, gopher snakes, red-tailed hawks.

From Washington Times

Often confused with gopher snakes, rattlesnakes have wide triangular heads and thin necks.

From Los Angeles Times