The bull snake is also known as a gopher snake. The terms are used interchangeably in the official Montana state wildlife field guide. It is the largest snake in Montana, and its markings do bear a superficial resemblance to a rattlesnake. When threatened it enhances this resemblance by coiling like a rattlesnake and hissing. It may flatten its head to imitate the triangular appearance of a pit viper while shaking its tail in dry grass to mimic the sound of a rattle. Despite this flattery of imitation, bull snakes have been known to consume small rattlesnakes, and some sources report that bull snakes are immune to rattlesnake venom. Listen to the story of a personal encounter with a bull snake…

This Field Note was written by Edward Monnig. Would you be interested in writing one? Contact Allison De Jong, Field Notes editor, at adejong [at] montananaturalist [dot] org or 406.327.0405. Please visit the Field Notes website at the Montana Natural History Center for more information.