{"id":10758,"date":"2022-03-18T23:30:18","date_gmt":"2022-03-18T23:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=10758"},"modified":"2022-05-24T17:02:34","modified_gmt":"2022-05-24T17:02:34","slug":"bull-snake-vs-gopher-snake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/bull-snake-vs-gopher-snake\/","title":{"rendered":"Bull Snake Vs Gopher Snake: How Do They Compare?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You\u2019ve heard about bull snakes, and you\u2019ve heard about gopher snakes. Perhaps you\u2019ve looked at pictures of each, or you\u2019ve seen them both in real life\u2013and you think to yourself, they look exactly the same! So, are they the same type of snake? What are their similarities and differences? And if you\u2019re looking to keep one as a pet, which one should you choose? Keep reading! In this article, we\u2019ll answer all of these questions as we compare the bull snake vs. the gopher snake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are Bull Snakes and Gopher Snakes the Same?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Are
Gopher Snake<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The short answer is yes\u2026 and no!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bull snakes and gopher snakes are closely related, but they are not exactly the same. Bull snakes are, in fact, a subspecies of the larger family that encompasses all gopher snakes\u2013so they are basically cousins.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we discuss their similarities and differences, let\u2019s take a closer look at each type of snake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bull Snakes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bull snakes are nonvenomous constrictors<\/a> found throughout the central, southern, and parts of the southwestern United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These snakes can grow up to 8 feet long. They are usually brightly colored, with patterns of yellow, yellow-brown, and black covering their bodies.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bull snakes eat a variety of small mammals, lizards, and birds. They kill their prey by wrapping their bodies around it and suffocating it, then they swallow it whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bull snakes are generally harmless to humans and can be good to have around because they help control rat and other pest populations. Some people keep them as pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gopher Snakes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are several subspecies of gopher snakes, most of which are found in the western and southwestern United States as well as northern Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on subspecies, most gopher snakes grow between 3 and 7 feet long, with the majority being between 4 and 5 feet. Their skin patterns are similar to bull snakes, but gopher snakes tend to have more pale or muted colors.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gopher snakes eat many of the same foods as bull snakes: small mammals, lizards, and birds. They are also nonvenomous constrictors that kill their prey by suffocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because they help control pest populations and are harmless to humans, they are also seen as good to have around. They tend to be somewhat less aggressive than bull snakes, and they are also sometimes kept as pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bull Snake Vs. Gopher Snake<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Bull<\/a>
Bull Snake<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to experts, all bull snakes are gopher snakes, but not all gopher snakes are bull snakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Confused?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned above, bull snakes are a subspecies of gopher snakes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be exact, both bull snakes and gopher snakes fall under the <\/strong>Pituophis catenifer<\/em><\/strong> genus, which contains multiple subspecies; only one of these subspecies is referred to as \u201cbull snakes,\u201d while all the others are known as \u201cgopher snakes.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you might imagine, bull snakes and gopher snakes have many similarities, but they also have their share of differences. Let\u2019s explore these similarities and differences below.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n