SNAKE in Colorado
Posted by Robert Finlay on July 20, 2007
Q: Hi,
My wife is home while I am away on a contract job, and she sent me a picture of a snake that our CAT (not yet a year old and very inquisitive) was about to pounce.
She said it had NO rattles, but shook its tail and made a similar sound. We live at 8600' above sea level, and the snake (she killed it not wanting it to harm the cat and not being sure if it was or was not a rattler)was almost 6' long.
I have since looked up the snake and it seems to be of the KING SNAKE variety. Picture attached.
If it was a KING SNAKE would it be better to leave it to kill other snakes?
Thank you
Bob
Habitat: forest/open woods
State: Colorado
Habitat: forest/open woods
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A: Thanks for the photos and description. Your snake is a harmless Bull Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus). I realize that a snake this large can be quite scary so understand your wife's actions. It is too bad though as it is a great rodent eater. Bull Snakes are known to vibrate their tails and even hiss loudly when threatened and this can be scary too. If you see another one of these snakes, let's hope your cat is not nearby. Thanks for asking.
John Wiessinger ( July 20, 2007)