Bull Snake
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| Pituophis catenifer sayi Schlegel, 1837 |
The Bull Snake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) is a large species of non-venomous colubrid snake found predominantly in the central United States. The epithet sayi is in honor of the renowned zoologist Thomas Say.
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[edit] Range
Bull snakes have one of the most expansive ranges of the Pituophis species. It can be found throughout much of the central United States, in the states of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Idaho, Oregon, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Montana. It ranges as far north as the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and as far south as the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
[edit] Description
Bull snakes are large snakes, lengths of 7 foot or more are not uncommon, males are generally larger than females. They are usually yellow in color, with brown, black or sometimes reddish colored blotching. Many color variations have been found, including albinos and white varieties.
[edit] Diet
Bull snakes eat small mammals, such as rats, mice, rabbits, gophers, prairie dogs, as well as ground nesting birds and the young of other snakes. It is commonly believed that bull snakes will kill rattlesnakes; this possible misconception is often touted as a reason for humans not to harm bull snakes when encountering them in the wild.
[edit] In captivity
Bull snakes are extremely common in the exotic pet trade. They are frequently captive bred for color and pattern. They make easy-to-care-for, hardy captives, though their size can make them intimidating.
