Bull Snake (Pituophis catenifer)

Range: Bull Snakes can be found throughout much of the western United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and northern Mexico.

Description: Among the largest of US snakes (sometimes exceeding 6' 0" in length), Bull Snakes have been recorded up to 100 inches. They are usually yellow, with brown, black or sometimes reddish colored patterns. Color variations, including albino and white varieties, have been found.

Diet: Bull Snakes generally kill by constriction before eating small mammals, such as gophers, rabbits, and rodents. They also prey on ground nesting birds, lizards, and other small snakes.

Behavior: Although some Bull snakes are bad-tempered and will bite when provoked, they are mostly docile and can be handled by humans. The Bull Snake's primary defense is to flee when threatened by large mammals. They have been known to mimic Rattlesnakes (when angry) by hissing and elevating their tail with rapid vibration while taking a coiled position from which they can quickly lunge nearly one-half their total length in order to strike.