Bullsnake / Gophersnake
Pituophis catenifer • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pituophis, Species: P. catenifer
Widely distributed across North America, ranging from western Canada, through the United States down into northern Mexico.
Look up Bullsnake / Gophersnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pituophis, Species: P. catenifer
Conservation
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its extensive range and large overall population, though local populations face threats from habitat fragmentation and road mortality.
Physical Description
Features a yellowish, tan, or cream-colored background with a series of dark brown, black, or reddish-brown blotches along the back and smaller spots on the sides. Head is slightly distinct from the neck with dark lines across the face, and scales are characteristically keeled.
Size & Dimensions
The pictured specimen appears to be roughly 4 to 5 feet long. Adults typically range from 48 to 72 inches (120 to 180 cm), with maximum records exceeding 90 inches.
Habitat
Found in a wide variety of habitats including prairies, pine barrens, brushlands, agricultural fields, deserts, and semi-arid regions, typically from sea level up to elevations of around 9,000 feet.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily preys on small mammals such as mice, rats, gophers, and voles, as well as birds and their eggs. Utilizes constriction to subdue prey after an active search or ambush in burrows.
Reproduction
Oviparous species, laying clutches typically ranging from 3 to 24 eggs in underground burrows or beneath logs during the summer months, with incubation lasting around 60 to 80 days.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its extensive range and large overall population, though local populations face threats from habitat fragmentation and road mortality.
Cultural Significance
Valued ecologically as a highly effective controller of rodent populations in agricultural and suburban settings, frequently interacting with human habitations.
Notable Features
Known for producing a very loud, impressive hiss by forcing air through a specialized epiglottis when threatened, closely mimicking the sound of a rattlesnake.