I caught a gopher snake!

[Dank 110100100]

Last night I went road hunting and caught a beautiful Great Basin
gopher snake, Pituophis catenifer deserticola.

He was crawling across a mountain road at about 6500' elevation, and I
probably saved him from getting squashed, because I almost got rear-
ended as I got out of the car to retrieve him.

Perfect specimen, fairly young, about 38" long and 130 grams.
Incredibly docile for a wild snake - he didn't hiss or try to bite me
at all, and seems content to sit on my tummy while I watch television.

He should make an excellent pet, though nothing can replace my
previous gopher snake, who escaped after ten wonderful years of loyal
companionship, only to meet a horrible fate involving a little girl
who thought he was a rattlesnake.

Some photos:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2461/3767917102_5e348aced7.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2482/3767118407_c6a2a56818.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3532/3767917254_3c3de2b64e.jpg

[reptilefile.com]

Good on you. I never had a gopher snake (plenty of rat snakes,
though!) but I hear they make excellent pets.