The Bull Snake is a wide-ranging species occuring throughout the midwestern U. S. from south Texas and northern Mexico northward into southern Canada. In Texas, it is occurs throughout the western 2/3 of the state, except for far west Texas. It can be found in a wide variety of open terrain ranging from sea level to elevations above 7,000 feet in the Guadalupe Mountains of west Texas. The Bull Snake is one of the state's largest snakes. Most adults are from 4 to 5 feet in length. However, the record size for the species is 102 ½ inches. This record size specimen was taken in Wichita County, Texas. Young Bull Snakes are 12½ to 19 inches in length at hatching.
Bull Snakes vary greatly in their temperaments. When encountered in the field, some are very docile and make no attempt to bite when picked up and handled, while others will coil up much like a rattlesnake and hiss very loudly while vibrating their tails and attempting to bite if handled.
Bull Snake - Pituophis catenifer sayi from Gillespie County, Texas
Photo by Brad Lichtenhan
These large powerful constrictors feed on mice, rats, gophers, ground squirrels, rabbits and occasionally nesting birds and bird eggs. Juvenile Bull Snakes also occasionally feed on lizards and insects. Due to their large size and the large number of rodents that these snakes consume, they are certainly an economically beneficial snake and many farmers consider them as welcome guests in and around their barns for this very reason.
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