The Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) is a large non-venomous colubrid snake, widespread in the central part of the United States, northern Mexico, and western Canada. It is a subspecies of the Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer). Bull snakes are rather heavy-bodied, small-headed, and may reach 2.5 metres (8 feet) in length. Typical coloration is yellowish brown or creamy, with dark blotches. The nose shield is enlarged for digging. Bull snakes can be found in sandy, open country and in pine barrens, where they eat mainly rodents but also prey on birds and lizards.
Ten Facts about Bullsnake
- Bullsnakes often exceed 8 feet (2.4 m) in length, and specimens of up to 100 inches (254 cm) have been recorded.
- Bullsnakes eat small mammals, such as mice, rats, large insects, as well as ground nesting birds, lizards, other snakes, and the young of other snakes.
- When threatened by anything as large as a human, a bull snake's primary defense is to rear up and make it look as large as possible.
- Bullsnakes breed in March and usually lay their eggs in April or June.
- The eggs typically hatch in August or September. Baby bullsnakes are 8 - 18 inches at hatching. Their color is grayish until after their first shed.
- Some of the states where bull snakes can be found in the wild: Arizona, Oregon, Missouri, Washington, North Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah, Wisconsin, Idaho, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas.
- The bull snake is of the constrictor type, which means that it's killing its victims by squeezing them until they suffocate.
- It doesn't chew the food, it digests it with the help of the gastric acids from the stomach.
- The biggest enemies of this snake are eagles and hawks, and it can be found in agricultural fields, sandy areas, forests and prairies.
- Many live 10 to 20 years in captivity.
