When a gopher snake feels threatened, it sometimes uses several theatrical defenses that mimic those of rattlesnakes, a strategy known as Batesian mimicry. When feeling cornered, gopher snakes are known to coil into an “S” shape, elevate it’s head into striking position, loosen their jaws into a wider triangular shape, hiss aggressively and vibrate their tales generating a buzzing sound that resembles a rattlesnakes rattle.
