Bull (gopher) snake - Pituophis catenifer

Head of an adult bull snake

Description:

  • 37-72 inches total length
  • Found in open grasslands and open woodlands
  • Active during the day
  • Feed on large quantities of rodents.

Interesting fact:

  • Bull snakes are mimics of rattlesnakes, behaving very much like a rattlesnake when threatened. However, their "rattle" sound is actually a hiss, they don't have a rattle. Many of these beneficial snakes are killed because of they are mistaken for rattlesnakes.

Range map in Kansas:

Map of Kansas with counties containing bull snakes in red.

More images:

An adult bull snake pretending to be a rattlesnake