Gopher Snake

Head shape is a bad character to go off of. Almost every snake has the ability to flatten it's head and look triangular shape because it is trying to mimic a venomous snake. Gopher snakes are known for being notoriously grumpy and put on a big show of striking and hissing, though I have never been bit by one (not yet at least). I have seen many snakes with stumpy tails, usually from a predator earlier in life trying to eat them. These guys do have a similar pattern to some of the species of rattlesnake, was just curious why you were thinking it was one. Your reasoning seems logical enough! But these guys just like to put on a big show, nothing to worry about too much :)

First off, it's head was spade shaped. I'm not afraid of snakes, but I'm not stupid. A wide jaw like that generally means it's venomous. Secondly, its tail was seemed abnormally stumped almost as if it was cut off earlier in development and I'm from the southwest where I have seen a good deal of rattlers that look similar but I had not recognized the markings.

Curious as to why you would think this is a rattlesnake with its rattle cut off rather than thinking it is a completely harmless snake that isn't supposed to have a rattle?