Bullsnakes / Gophersnakes *Pituophis catenifer* are large (record 274.3 cm) actively foraging snakes with keeled scales found in a variety of habitats including disturbed areas like suburban yards. They are commonly encountered snakes throughout western North America and make good pest control as they eat primarily small mammals.
*Pituophis* pine and bull snakes may puff up or flatten out defensively, but are not considered medically significant to humans in terms of venom. They are known for a terrific hissing display when threatened - aided by a [epiglottal keel](https://www.snakeevolution.org/pdfs/Sound_Pit.pdf). They are usually reluctant to bite, but all animals with a mouth can use it in self-defense.
[Range Map](http://mtnhp.org/thumbnail/defaultNoCap.aspx?img=http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/RangeMaps/NSRangeMap_ARADB26020.jpg&maxWidth=600)|[Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](http://www.academia.edu/11185732/Molecular_systematics_of_New_World_Gopher_Bull_and_Pinesnakes_Pituophis_Colubridae_a_transcontinental_species_complex)
This genus is in need of revision using modern molecular methods.
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Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless.
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!harmless bull/gophersnake, *Pituophis catenifer*.
Bullsnakes / Gophersnakes *Pituophis catenifer* are large (record 274.3 cm) actively foraging snakes with keeled scales found in a variety of habitats including disturbed areas like suburban yards. They are commonly encountered snakes throughout western North America and make good pest control as they eat primarily small mammals. *Pituophis* pine and bull snakes may puff up or flatten out defensively, but are not considered medically significant to humans in terms of venom. They are known for a terrific hissing display when threatened - aided by a [epiglottal keel](https://www.snakeevolution.org/pdfs/Sound_Pit.pdf). They are usually reluctant to bite, but all animals with a mouth can use it in self-defense. [Range Map](http://mtnhp.org/thumbnail/defaultNoCap.aspx?img=http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/RangeMaps/NSRangeMap_ARADB26020.jpg&maxWidth=600)|[Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](http://www.academia.edu/11185732/Molecular_systematics_of_New_World_Gopher_Bull_and_Pinesnakes_Pituophis_Colubridae_a_transcontinental_species_complex) This genus is in need of revision using modern molecular methods. -------------------------------------------------------- Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
Big ol bullsnake
I think a gopher snake
That there is what's known as a fat snake.
I mean a bull is a cow and cows are fat.
Face it, it's a thick snake. One could almost say a solid snake.
If I was lost and starving and came across this guy, one could call me a “snake eater.”
Bull Snake