Bullsnake Natural History

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Bullsnake Pituophis catenifer sayi aka Gophersnake Pituophis melanoleucus Description: The Bullsnake is the subspecies of the Gophersnake and Pinesnake. It is a long snake (37- 74 inches). The coloring is a black or brown pat- tern on a pale yellow/tan background. There are three different patterns on the body. The head has a pointed nose with dark spots under the eyes. The body has dark blotches. The tail has dark bands. Males tend to be larger than females, which is uncommon among snakes. Vocalizations: If threatened a Bullsnake gives a strong hiss, which some observers believe sounds like a bull snorting. This sound may have earned the snake its’ name. To deter predators a Bullsnake may vibrate it’s tail in the leaves, to imitate a rattlesnake’s rattle. Habitat: Bullsnakes spend about 60% of their time underground in gopher burrows. Bullsnakes need at least one square mile of grassy land to hunt and hide from predators. These long constrictors spend the winter in old burrows, sometimes with other snake species. In Minnesota and Wisconsin Bullsnakes are predominantly found in the bluffs, prairies and savannas along the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix Rivers. Bullsnakes have been reintroduced into parts of Hennepin County. Diet: Bullsnakes are non-venomous constrictors which kill their prey by squeezing. They eat rodents and are beneficial to farmers. They also eat frogs, ground nesting birds and eggs. Lifespan: Bullsnakes typically live up to 12 years in the wild. These snakes have lived to be over 30 years old in captivity. Breeding: Bullsnakes are oviparous and lay one clutch of 2-24 eggs in June or July. The eggs hatch 56-100 days later and the young are 10-17 inches long. Conservation Status: Bullsnakes are widespread, but are listed as a species of special concern in Minnesota due to their limited distribution and susceptibility to habitat destruction and illegal collection for the pet trade. Their preferred habitat is prairie grasslands. Prairie habitat is one of the most endangered habitats in the Midwest, with only 0.1% of the prairie Range Map: Minnesota DNR and Wisconsin DNR remnants remaining in many states . .

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Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Vascular Plants, and Habitat in the Gila River Riparian Zone in Southwestern New Mexico
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