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Home , Bullsnake, Crotalus viridis, Pituophis, Pituophis catenifer, Rattlesnake

IDENTIFICATION: This brochure is provided by: . Neck is the same width as the , and has round pupils; . Upper side yellowish or cream with numerous dark or black blotches; scales on upper back keeled. . They can grow much longer than reaching up to 100 inches, but rarely more than 71 BOULDER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE inches. CONTROL UNIT . They are rattlesnake imposters 5600 Flatiron Parkway because they will also coil up and Boulder, CO 80301 shake their tail, while making a Dispatch: 303‐441‐4444 rattle sound. cause a number of concerns and LIFE FACTS: conflicts for humans. Information on how . They are distributed throughout to solve conflicts with snakes can be DO YOU KNOW WHICH most of at elevations obtained through: below about 8,500 feet, mostly below IS A 7,000 feet and are very common. Colorado State University Extension . They occupy a variety of habitats www.ext.colostate.edu RATTLESNAKE? and most activity takes place on the ground or in , but these capable climbers sometimes ascend Information and pictures for this brochure high into trees. were provided by: BULLSNAKE . Diet consists primarily of rodents and other small or . The Colorado Division of Wildlife

This makes them a welcome www.wildlife.state.co.us addition to any property. . are constrictors that kill

their prey by simply squeezing them to death.

There are over 30 different of and spadefoot toads, and sometimes snakes coexisting with us in this . When threatened with danger they carrion. Prey are ambushed or wonderful state. Of those 30 species will usually coil their body up and obtained by active foraging. there are only 2 species of snakes that shake their tail, which creates a . Rattlesnakes subdue prey by are venomous according to the buzzing sound. striking them quickly with a Colorado Division of Wildlife. This . Head much broader than the neck; venomous bite. The stuns or informational brochure is meant to help kills the prey immediately. you distinguish between a venomous OTHER FACTS: very common rattlesnake and a . Given an opportunity to escape, imposter called a Bullsnake. snakes will choose flight over fight.

. Pit on each side of face between (but . There are more people killed by lower than) eye and nostril; lightning and bee stings than by . Upper side usually blotched; upper . scales keeled (have a ridge down the . Colorado State Statutes provide that center); “any person may kill rattlesnakes . Pupil vertically elongated (like a when necessary to protect life or ’s) in bright light. property” [33‐6‐107(9), C.R.S.]. . They can reach up to 48 inches, but . PLEASE USE CAUTION AROUND are rarely greater than 39 inches ANY SNAKE YOU FIND. long.

WESTERN OR PRAIRIE LIFE FACTS: . They are throughout most of RATTLESNAKE Colorado, except the high ( viridis) mountains, reaching an upper elevational limit of 7,500–9,500 feet IDENTIFICATION: in different areas of the state. . Horny rattle or button on end of tail; . They occupy virtually every

terrestrial habitat and take shelter in crevices, woodpiles, brushy BULLSNAKE OR vegetation, or burrows. . Typical food items include small SNAKE mammals, , occasional birds ( catenifer)