I was quite surprised to find this half-grown Bullsnake (Pituophis melanoleucus) sunning on the gravel road of Quivira NWR when I visited there in mid-November. After all, the temperatures were only about 50F and these are cold-blooded creatures.
These reptiles can grow to about 6-feet long … this one was about 3-feet long. Bullsnakes are constrictors, and revered as extremely valuable in controlling destructive rodents. When encountered, the bullsnake may hiss loudly and vibrate it’s tail when alarmed. They often use mammal burrows as their home.
Photographic Equipment Used:
- Canon 5D Mark 3 body
- Canon EF 100mm-400mm, f/4.5-f/5.6 IS lens + Canon 1.4x TC (shot at 560mm)
- Handheld, with IS “On”
- ISO 250
- Aperture f/16
- Shutter 1/160 sec. to 1/200 sec.