Palouse Outdoors:A Gopher Snake in the Grass is Nature's Hidden Hero

"We're missing snakes," Ali said. "It's the apex predator at ground level."

"You're right. We've seen one gopher snake on this property in eight years," I replied.

Rarely would anyone utter a thought about needing more snakes in their life, but this conversation followed a moment of compromised composure. A pocket gopher eating the entire root system from beneath a beautiful three-year-old sagebrush that had grown from seed provoked red-faced rage and copious obscenities. I'm not one to "throw shade" on wildlife. Pocket gophers must "make a living," too, but their burrowing and gnawing are mow...