Gopher snake at Mt. Diablo State Park

This harmless little fellow froze in the middle of the trail as we hiked past and took off quickly after I took this shot. Gopher snakes are constrictors. They resemble rattlesnakes, the real way to tell is rattlesnakes' heads are more pyramid shaped, and stick out from their necks; gopher snakes are blunt. I know from experience that a rattlesnake is more likely to slither away from you quickly than to strike (even if it coils and rattles); they'd rather not waste their venom on something they can't eat. I think this one is beautifully camouflages!