Bullsnake

The Bullsnake is a large, robust subspecies of gopher snake found across the Great Plains and much of the central and western United States, extending into southern Canada and northern Mexico. It is one of the largest colubrids in North America.

Well known for its dramatic defensive display, involving loud hissing and body inflation that can mimic a rattlesnake's warning, this species is otherwise a beneficial, non-venomous predator of agricultural pests.

• Large, heavy-bodied snake with a small head relative to body size
• Yellowish, cream, or tan background with dark brown or black blotches, often denser toward the tail
• Keeled scales giving a slightly rough texture
• Distinctive loud hiss produced via an epiglottal keel, often accompanied by tail vibration
• Distinguished from rattlesnakes by lack of a rattle, round pupils, and narrower head

Inhabits prairies, grasslands, agricultural fields, and sandy or open habitats across the Great Plains and central/western North America, often using rodent burrows for shelter.

Primarily diurnal, though it may shift to crepuscular activity in hot weather. An excellent burrower and climber, it feeds heavily on rodents, ground-nesting bird eggs, and small mammals, making it valuable for rodent control. It is oviparous, laying eggs in summer, and is famous for its loud defensive hissing display.