Hobbies And Interests
Prey
According to a comprehensive study of bull snake diets in the wild published in the May 2002 issue of "The Biological Journal of the Linnean Society," herpetologists at the University of California, Berkeley, found that mammals such as rodents, ground squirrels and small gophers account for three out of every four bull snake meals. Other prey include birds and bird eggs as well as some lizards and other reptile eggs.
Hunting Locations
Bull snakes are aggressive hunters that actively seek out their prey. Bull snakes are most active during the day but also hunt in the early morning or early evening. The snakes often explore underground tunnels and burrows in search of small rodents. They are also excellent climbers and will venture into the trees in woodlands in search of unattended bird nests for an easy meal.
Hunting Habits
Bull snakes, like most nonvenomous snakes, kill their prey by constriction. Bull snakes have several rows of sharp teeth that hook back toward their throat. The hooked teeth work like fish hooks, making it very difficult for prey to escape once the bull snake strikes. Bull snakes have strong muscles through the length of their body and suffocate their prey by constricting it tightly. Once they have killed it, bull snakes swallow their meal whole.
Interesting Facts
When threatened, bull snakes will coil up, open their mouth and hiss loudly. In addition, they vibrate their tale violently, which often makes them sound like a rattlesnake. The tail rattling is so effective that many people mistake bull snakes for rattlesnakes and kill them unnecessarily. Bull snakes, while seemingly aggressive, are not dangerous and will often tame quickly in captivity, making them popular pets. In the wild, bull snakes are highly beneficial to have around your property, since they feed on rodents and common garden pests.