One recent chilly day, I was out poking around the edges of the La Crosse River Trail when a sudden eruption of dog barking grabbed my attention.
Looking up, I saw a woman with two dogs coming my way. I stood still, awaiting the dogs’ approval before starting a conversation. The dogs soon went about their business, and their master and I were left to discuss the trail and other outdoor subjects.
One such subject led to this article. My newfound friend evidently walks on our trail frequently, and she was soon telling me about having come upon a number of snakes, all in one place, and wasn’t quite sure what they were or how to deal with them. She said she’d been told that they were very likely bullsnakes, and I assured her that this explanation sounded correct to me.
I understood that the encounter had occurred recently, though I do not remember that she specified an exact time. I’m guessing it was probably during October. In October of 1997 I discovered a nest of about 20 young bullsnakes that I estimated to range in size from 10 inches to over 16 inches. The ones I found were basking in the sun on a chilly day, preparing, I thought, for the long cold spell sure to come.
Bullsnake
The lady with whom I was talking told me that she was familiar with our timber rattlesnake and wanted to know about the non-venomous species that resemble them.
In prairie grassland situations, such as along this trail, the usual reptilian encounter is likely to be with a bullsnake. These dudes are most likely to have a ground color of just about lemon yellow. This will be heavily overlaid with a pattern in black that will almost hide the yellow except on the top of the critter’s head, which is almost always pale yellow. From right behind the head, right down to the tail, one finds a series of squares, alternately black and pale yellow. A bullsnake’s scales are very smooth and polished to a high shine. This guy’s pointed nose ends with a vertical scale — used as a digging tool — right on its front end. The snake can range between 5 feet and 8 feet, and every foot is pugnacious.
Fox Snake
On our bluffs, one is more likely to meet with a fox snake. This one has a blunt nose and, usually, a subdued tawny ground color over rough scales. It, too, has irregular squares, alternately tawny and medium brown, down its back. The top of its head is generally copper colored and grows to be about 5 feet. It, too, is temperamental, but it’s calmer than a Bullsnake.
Each of these snakes can make a “rattlesnake” sound, but not by rustling dead leaves with its tail, as is so often claimed. It’s done in the throat by a forced exhaling of breath. Any one who doesn’t believe that can try irritating one of the serpents and watching its body shrink during the “rattle” — and watching it expand again while making a loud sucking sound during inhalation. I’ve done it with both species. Sometimes the “rattling” is accompanied by sudden strikes and many writhing motions.
Interesting imitators along the trail.
Looking up, I saw a woman with two dogs coming my way. I stood still, awaiting the dogs’ approval before starting a conversation. The dogs soon went about their business, and their master and I were left to discuss the trail and other outdoor subjects.
One such subject led to this article. My newfound friend evidently walks on our trail frequently, and she was soon telling me about having come upon a number of snakes, all in one place, and wasn’t quite sure what they were or how to deal with them. She said she’d been told that they were very likely bullsnakes, and I assured her that this explanation sounded correct to me.
I understood that the encounter had occurred recently, though I do not remember that she specified an exact time. I’m guessing it was probably during October. In October of 1997 I discovered a nest of about 20 young bullsnakes that I estimated to range in size from 10 inches to over 16 inches. The ones I found were basking in the sun on a chilly day, preparing, I thought, for the long cold spell sure to come.
Bullsnake
The lady with whom I was talking told me that she was familiar with our timber rattlesnake and wanted to know about the non-venomous species that resemble them.
In prairie grassland situations, such as along this trail, the usual reptilian encounter is likely to be with a bullsnake. These dudes are most likely to have a ground color of just about lemon yellow. This will be heavily overlaid with a pattern in black that will almost hide the yellow except on the top of the critter’s head, which is almost always pale yellow. From right behind the head, right down to the tail, one finds a series of squares, alternately black and pale yellow. A bullsnake’s scales are very smooth and polished to a high shine. This guy’s pointed nose ends with a vertical scale — used as a digging tool — right on its front end. The snake can range between 5 feet and 8 feet, and every foot is pugnacious.
Fox Snake
On our bluffs, one is more likely to meet with a fox snake. This one has a blunt nose and, usually, a subdued tawny ground color over rough scales. It, too, has irregular squares, alternately tawny and medium brown, down its back. The top of its head is generally copper colored and grows to be about 5 feet. It, too, is temperamental, but it’s calmer than a Bullsnake.
Each of these snakes can make a “rattlesnake” sound, but not by rustling dead leaves with its tail, as is so often claimed. It’s done in the throat by a forced exhaling of breath. Any one who doesn’t believe that can try irritating one of the serpents and watching its body shrink during the “rattle” — and watching it expand again while making a loud sucking sound during inhalation. I’ve done it with both species. Sometimes the “rattling” is accompanied by sudden strikes and many writhing motions.
Interesting imitators along the trail.