HARMLESS. The Gophersnake (aka Bullsnake) is unique among Kansas snakes in having an enlarged (but not upturned) rostral scale, keeled scales, and a single anal plate. The largest snake in Kansas, the Gophersnake is characterized by keeled scales, a single anal scale, and a pattern of 33- 73 large brown or black blotches on the brownish yellow body. The tail has alternating yellow and black bands. The belly is yellowish with variable black mottling. Adult males have longer tails than females.
The largest snake in Kansas. Adults normally grow 94.8-183.0 cm (37-72 inches) in total length. The largest specimen from Kansas is a female (KU 189258) from Harper County with total length of 226.0 cm (885⁄8 inches) and a weight of about 3,630 grams (8 pounds) collected by M. Kane on 21 May 1981. The maximum length throughout the range is 266.7 cm (105 inches) (Devitt et al., 2007; Powell et al., 2016).
The Gophersnake may be expected statewide but is generally only widespread west of the Flint Hills.
The Gophersnake lives in open grasslands as well as open woodland and woodland edge. It is common in cultivated fields where there is an abundance of rodents, its preferred food. Active from April to November at air temperatures above 60°F, it is generally diurnal, although Burt and Burt (1929) indicated that it may be active at night also. During the day, this snake basks in the sun or forages for food. Studies have shown that it uses its snout like a spade to shovel loose soil into a curve of its head and neck, after which the soil is dumped posteriorly away from the excavation; this activity may be useful in digging retreats or searching for food. With the approach of winter, this serpent seeks out deep crevices on rocky hillsides (eastern Kansas) or the burrows of small mammals (western Kansas), where it normally remains inactive until spring. Parks (1969) recorded a Gophersnake active in Ellis County during February.
Collins (1974) observed a Gophersnake partially emerged from an underground burrow during a late November warm period in Douglas County. During an unseasonably mild spell of weather, Capron (1986) observed an example of this species active in late January near Oxford. It is possible that this snake opportunistically emerges from its winter retreat whenever temperatures are favorable.
Gophersnakes mate during April and May after emergence from winter inactivity. Courtship involves the male crawling along and over the female until he eventually rests almost entirely on top of her. During this process, the male exhibits jerking body movements. The female is passive, except for elevating and waving her tail. Just prior to copulation the male may seize the female with his mouth, biting her on the head or neck. He curls his tail beneath hers until their cloacal openings meet; copulation commences and may last over an hour.
Female Gophersnakes lay their eggs in soft earth beneath large rocks or logs. Number of eggs per clutch ranges from three to 22, with thirteen being the average in the Great Plains (Fitch, 1985).
Gloyd (1928) found twelve eggs in a nest on 30 August in Franklin County. Marr (1944) found a female in Meade County which contained eleven eggs on 3 June. Mehrtens (1952) recorded a female from Saline County which laid nine eggs on 27 June. Four of the eggs hatched on 22-25 August; the young were about 279.4 mm (11 inches) long. Collins (1982) recorded a captive female from Douglas County (collected by Stanley Roth) that laid nine eggs on 14 July. Five of these successfully hatched on 30 September. Eric M. Rundquist (pers. comm., 1989; Collins, 1993) recorded a clutch of ten eggs laid on 30 June by a female from Sedgwick County.
The Gophersnake is probably the most economically beneficial snake in Kansas, consuming large quantities of rodents and saving farmers from much grain loss. This snake eats pocket gophers, rats, mice, rabbits, and ground squirrels. It also occasionally eats birds and bird eggs. Scheffer (1911) details the predatory behaviors of the Gophersnake on the Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius) in Kansas. It is a widely-held, but incorrect, belief that Gophersnakes consume venomous snakes. While a Gophersnake and a Prairie Rattlesnake may have a similar diet (small mammals) their only general interaction may be competition for prey items.
Predators of Gophersnakes include large carnivorous birds and mammals (Collins, 1993). Young Gophersnakes may also be eaten by larger snakes.
The Gophersnake was first reported in Kansas by Cope (1875) based on specimens in the United States National Museum. The earliest extant specimen (MCZ 5877, 177822) was collected at "Ft. Riley, Kan" and received by the MCZ, from the Smithsonian Institution, around 1879. The jar containing MCZ 5877 was found to also contain an untagged specimen on 4 March 1992. On 22 March 1993 the untagged specimen was cataloged as MCZ 177822 (as per the penciled in notes on the MCZ catalog).
Gophersnakes are commonly thought to prey on other snakes, especially rattlesnakes, however, there is no evidence to support this claim. Both Gophersnakes and Kansas' rattlesnakes prey on small mammals.
Parks (1969) reported a Gophersnake active on 21 February 1969 in Ellis County.
The Bullsnake (P. c. 'sayi') is a variety of Gophersnake (P. catenifer) found east of the Rocky Mountains and the Pecos River and west of the Mississippi River, from northern Mexico into Canada.
Emits a loud “hiss” when disturbed or frightened, by forcefully exhaling air across a cartilaginous ridge situated In front of the glottis.
Knight and Collins (1977) recorded forty-one Gophersnakes during a two-week period in Cheyenne County and considered it the most abundant snake in that county.
Thirty-three of their specimens were found killed by vehicles on highways or roads. Capron (1985) recorded 38 of these snakes killed by swathing (mowing) machines during agricultural harvests from May to mid-July in southern Kansas.
Based on a captive specimen, Snider and Bowler (1992) reported a maximum longevity for this snake of 33 years and ten months.
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Riedle, J. Daren. 1998. Winter snake activity. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (111):16.
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Collins, Joseph T. 1998. Results of the KHS silver anniversary fall field trip. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (114):6-.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1999. Kansas Herpetological Society herp counts: A 10 year summary and evaluation. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (115):42962.
Taggart, Travis W. 1999. Cherokee County fall 1999 herp count. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (117):6.
Fitch, Henry S. 2000. Population structure and biomass of some common snakes in central North America. Scientific Papers of the Natural History Museum, University of Kansas (17):1-7.
Taggart, Travis W. 2000. KHS spring field trip sets record for attendance. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (120):5-5.
Doren, Van, Mark D., and Curtis J. Schmidt. 2000. A herpetological survey of the Fort Larned National Historic Site, Pawnee County, Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (120):8-11.
Taggart, Travis W. 2000. Biogeographic analysis of the reptiles (Squamata) in Ellis County, Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (121):7-16.
Rundquist, Eric M. 2000. Results of the eleventh and twelfth annual KHS herpetofaunal counts for 1999-2000, held 1 April-31 May. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (122):11-16.
Rodriguez-Robles, Javier A. and Jose M. De Jesus-Escobar. 2000. Molecular systematics of New World Gopher, Bull, and Pinesnakes (Pituophis: Colubridae), a transcontinental species complex. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 14(1):35–50.
Johnson, Richard W. 2001. Spatial ecology of the Eastern Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum flagellum) in and eastern Texas upland community. Thesis. Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas. 54 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2001. The KHS 2001 spring field trip: A rainy rendezvous. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (124):12-14.
Schmidt, Curtis J. 2001. The amphibians, turtles, and reptiles of the Smoky Valley Ranch, Logan County, Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (124):9-11.
Taggart, Travis W. 2001. Results of the KHS spring field trip west. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (125):10.
Rundquist, Eric M. 2001. Results of the thirteenth annual KHS herp counts for 2001, held 1 April-30 June. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (125):13-16.
Kretzer, Justin E. and Jack F. Cully, Jr. 2001. Effects of Blacktailed Prairie Dogs on reptiles and amphibians in Kansas shortgrass prairie. Southwestern Naturalist 46(2):171-177.
Kingsbury, Bruce and Joanna Gibson. 2002. Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians and Reptiles of the Midwest. Publication of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Address not given. 152 pp.
Fogell, Daniel D. 2002. Occurrence and relative abundance of amphibians and reptiles at
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Homestead National Monument of
America, and Pipestone National Monument within the Heartland Inventory
and Monitoring Network. Interim Report. National Park Service, Washington, D.C.. 6 pp.
Riedle, J. Daren and A. Hynek. 2002. Amphibian and reptile inventory of the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant, Labette County, Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (2):18-20.
Ellis, Mark R. 2002. Fall 2002 KHS field trip to Washington County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (2):4-5.
Taggart, Travis W. 2002. Results of the spring 2002 KHS field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (3):6-7.
Taggart, Travis W. 2002. Results of the KHS 2002 fall field Trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (4):11-13.
Pitman, James C. 2003. Lesser Prairie-Chicken nest site
selection and nest success, juvenile gender determination
and growth, and juvenile survival and
dispersal in southwestern Kansas. Thesis. Kansas State University, Manhattan.
Fogell, Daniel D. 2003. A herpetofaunal inventory of Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Homestead National Monument of America, and Pipestone National Monument within the Heartland Inventory
and Monitoring Network. National Park Service, Washington, D.C.. 59 pp.
Suleiman, G. 2003. Fort Riley herpetofaunal count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (5):11-12.
Taggart, Travis W. 2003. KHS conducts first systematic road survey. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (6):11-12.
Platt, Dwight R. 2003. Lizards and snakes (Order Squamata) of Harvey County, Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (6):13-20.
Fitch, Henry S. 2003. Reproduction in snakes of the Fitch Natural History Reservation in northeastern Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (6):21-24.
Taggart, Travis W. 2003. Results of the 2003 KHS spring field trip to Wilson County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (6):2-5.
Taggart, Travis W. 2003. Logan County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):8.
Fitch, Henry S., Scott Sharp, and Kylee Sharp. 2003. Snakes of the University of Kansas biotic succession area. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (8):20-21.
Setser, Kirk and John F. Cavitt. 2003. Effects of burning on snakes in Kansas, USA, tallgrass prairie. Natural Areas Journal 23(4):315-319.
Schmidt, Curtis J. 2004. Natural history and status of the exploited Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) in western Kansas and a herpetofaunal inventory of the Smoky Valley Ranch, Logan County, Kansas. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 170 pp.
Delisle, Jennifer M. and William H. Busby. 2004. Biological inventory for vertebrates at Fort Larned National Historic Site of the southern plains network. Natural Heritage Inventory, Kansas Biological Survey, Lawrence. 61 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2004. Kansas Herpetological Society 2004 spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (9):2.
Taggart, Travis W. 2004. Results of the 2004 KHS spring field trip to Logan County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (10):2-7.
Washburne, M. 2004. Ellsworth County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):10.
Collins, Suzanne L. 2004. Geographic distribution. Pituophis catenifer. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):14.
Schmidt, Curtis J. 2004. Geographic distribution: Pituophis catenifer. Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):14.
Taggart, Travis W. 2004. Results of the KHS 2004 fall feld trip . Journal of Kansas Herpetology (12):15-16.
Taggart, Travis W. 2005. Results of the KHS 2005 fall field trip [to Crawford County]. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (16):19-21.
Pitman, James C., Christian A. Hagen, Brent E. Jamison, Robert J. Robel, Thomas M. Loughin, and Roger D. Applegate. 2005. Location and success of Lesser Prairie-Chicken nests in relation to vegetation and human disturbance. Journal of Wildlife Management 69(3):1259-1269.
Taggart, Travis W. 2006. Addendum report to biological inventory of the sandsage prairie near Holcomb, Kansas. Sunflower Electric Cooperative, Hays, Kansas. 31 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2006. Distribution and status of Kansas herpetofauna in need of information. State Wildlife Grant T7. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt. vii + 106 pp.
Fitch, Henry Sheldon. 2006. Gopher snakes, bullsnakes and pine snakes. Journal of Herpetology (17):16-17.
Wilgers, Dustin J. and Eva A. Horne. 2006. Effects of different burn regimes on tallgrass prairie herpetofaunal species diversity and community composition in the Flint Hills, Kansas. Journal of Herpetology 40:73-84.
Wilgers, Dustin J., Eva A. Horne, Brett K. Sandercock, and Allan W. Volkmann. 2006. Effects of rangeland management on community dynamics of the herpetofauna of the tallgrass prairie. 62:378-388.
Pitman, James C., Christian A. Hagen, Brent E. Jamison, Robert J. Robel, Thomas M. Loughin, and Roger D. Applegate. 2006. Nesting ecology of Lesser Prairie Chickens in Sand Sagebrush Prairie of southwestern Kansas. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 118(1):23-35.
Taggart, Travis W., Joseph T. Collins, and Curtis J. Schmidt. 2007. Estimates of amphibian, reptile, and turtle mortality if Phostoxin is applied to 10,000 acres of prairie dog burrows in Logan County, Kansas. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt. 5 pp.
Kapfer, Joshua M. 2007. Ecology of Bullsnakes (Pituophis catenifer sayi) in the upper midwest. Dissertation. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 79 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2007. A biological inventory of the Sunflower Electric Site near Holcomb, Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology 23:11-16.
Hagen, Christian A., James C. Pitman, Brett K. Sandercock, Robert J. Robel, and Roger D. Applegate. 2007. Age-specific survival and probable causes of mortality in female Lesser Prairie Chickens. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(2):518-525.
Taggart, Travis W. 2008. KHS 2008 spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (25):2-3.
Iverson, John B, Cameron A. Young, and Thomas S. Akre. 2008. Body size and growth in the Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) in the Nebraska Sandhills. Journal of Herpetology 42(3):501-507.
Kapfer, Joshua M., James R. Coggins, and Robert Hay. 2008. Spatial ecology and habitat selection of Bullsnakes (Pituophis catenifer sayi) at the northern periphery of their geographic range. Copeia 2008(4):815-82.
Collins, Joseph T., Suzanne L. Collins, and Travis W. Taggart. 2010. Amphibians, Reptiles, and Turtles of Kansas. Eagle Mountain Publishing., Provo, Utah. 400 pp.
Murrow, Daniel G. 2010. Kansas Herpetological Society spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (33):2-3.
Collins, Joseph T., Suzanne L. Collins, and Travis W. Taggart. 2011. Amphibians, Reptiles, and Turtles of the Cimarron National Grassland, Kansas. Second (Revised) Edition. U. S. Forest Service.
Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Kansas Herpetological Society 2011 spring field trip to be held in Chautauqua County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (37):5-7.
Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Results of the Kansas Herpetological Society 2011 Summer Field Trip to Scott State Park. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (39):2.
Houck, Mike. 2011. Fort Riley Herpetofaunal Survey for 2011. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (39):9.
Rohweder, Megan R. 2012. Spatial conservation prioritization of Kansas for terrestrial vertebrates. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 151 pp.
Powell, Robert, Joseph T Collins, and Errol D Hooper Jr. 2012. Key to the Herpetofauna of the Continental United States and Canada: Second Edition, Revised and Updated. Univ Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 152 pp.
LeClere, Jeffrey B., Erica P. Hoaglund, Jim Scharosch, Christopher E. Smith, Tony Gamble. 2012. Two naturally occurring intergeneric hybrid snakes (Pituophis catenifer sayi × Pantherophis vulpinus; Lampropeltini, Squamata) from the midwestern United States. Journal of Herpetology 46(2):257-262.
Iverson, John B., Cameron A. Young, Thomas S. B. Akre, and Christopher M. Griffiths. 2012. Reproduction by female bullsnakes (Pituophis catenifer sayi) in the Nebraska Sandhills. The Southwestern Naturalist 57(1):58-73.
Martino, Jessica A., Ray G. Poulin, Dennilyn L. Parker, and Christopher M. Somers. 2012. Habitat selection by grassland snakes at northern range limits: Implications for
conservation. The Journal of Wildlife Management 76(4):759-767.
Kauffman, Greg Lee. 2013. Stable isotope analysis of a middle woodland population from north central Kansas. Thesis. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 110 pp.
Sinclair, Tom. 2013. A four-day spring snake count across northern Kansas. Collinsorum 2(1/2):9.
Baldwin, Mary Kate. 2013. “Herps in Havensville” Herp Surveys. Collinsorum 2(3/4):10.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2012 Spring Field Trip to Bourbon County State Lake. Collinsorum 2(3/4):3.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2012 Summer Field Trip to Meade County State Park. Collinsorum 2(3/4):3.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2013 Summer Field Trip to Coldwater Lake, Comanche County. Collinsorum 2(3/4):5.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2013 Fall Field Trip to Butler County State Lake. Collinsorum 2(3/4):6.
Mardis, Dexter and Kevin Scott. 2013. 2013 Kansas Herpetofaunal Counts. Collinsorum 2(3/4):7.
Gardiner, Laura E., Christopher M. Somers, Jessica A. Martino, Dennilyn L. Parker, and Ray G. Poulin. 2013. Balancing the dumbbell: Summer habitats
need protection in addition to winter dens
for northern snake communities. The Journal of Wildlife Management 77(5):975-982.
Helms, Clinton. 2014. Nest Survival of Grassland Breeding Birds in a
Southern Mixed-Grass Prairie Wetland. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 100 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2014. Results of the 2014 KHS Spring Field Trip to Barber County. Collinsorum 3(2-4):11.
Taggart, Travis W. 2014. Results of the 2014 KHS Fall Field Trip to Woodson County. Collinsorum 3(2-4):12.
Taggart, Travis W. 2014. Results of the 2014 KHS summer field trip to Morton County and adjacent Colorado, New Mexico,
and Oklahoma. Collinsorum 3(2-4):12.
Taggart, Travis W. 2014. Recent scientific and standard English name changes effecting the Kansas herpetofauna. Collinsorum 3(2-4):9-10.
Brown, Kasandra A. 2015. Occupancy Modeling Of Herpetofauna And Grassland Nesting Birds At Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 72 pp.
Houck, Mike. 2015. 2015 Fort Riley Herpetofaunal Count final report. Collinsorum 4(1):10-11.
Taggart, Travis W. 2015. Spring Field Trip to the Greenhorn Limestone of Russell County. Collinsorum 4(3):2.
Taggart, Travis W. 2015. Summer Field Trip In The Harvey County Sandhills. Collinsorum 4(3):3.
Pittman, Galen L., Henry S. Fitch, and W. Dean Kettle. 2016. Vertebrate animals on the Fitch Natural History Reservation (1948-2002). Kansas Biological Survey Report Number 188, Lawrence. 48 pp.
Powell, Robert, Roger Conant, and Joseph T. Collins. 2016. Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. 494 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2016. Results of the KHS ‘Fall’ field trip to Barber County. Collinsorum 5(2-3):6-7.
Crother, Brian I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Eighth edition. Herpetological Circulars (43):1-102.
Hutto, Paxson and Travis W. Taggart. 2017. Recent sightings of the Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake at Kanopolis State Park, Ellsworth County,
Kansas. Collinsorum 6(1):13.
Mardis, Dexter R. 2017. Results from three Herpetofaunal tallies at Wichita State University’s Youngmeyer Ranch in Northwestern
Elk County. Collinsorum 6(1):8-10.
Taggart, Travis W. 2017. Results of the 2017 KHS Spring Field Trip to Elk County, Kansas. Collinsorum 6(2-3):6-8.
Houck, Mike. 2018. Herp Count: Fort Riley Military Installation. Collinsorum 7(1):17.
Powell, Robert, Joseph T Collins, and Errol D Hooper Jr. 2019. Key to the Herpetofauna of the Continental United States and Canada. Third Edition. Univ Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 192 pp.
Riedle, J. Daren. 2019. The truth about snakes. Kansas Wildlife and Parks Magazine July/August:18-21.
Daniel, Richard E. and Brian S. Edmond. 2020. Atlas of Missouri Amphibians and Reptiles for 2019. Privately printed, Columbia, Missouri. 86 pp.
Riedle, J. Daren. 2020. Revisiting Kansas Herpetological Society field trip and Herp Count data:
Distributional patterns and trend data of Kansas amphibians and reptiles. Collinsorum 9(1):7-16.
Riedle, J. Daren, Tamera D. Riedle, Zachary Riedle, and Greya Riedle. 2021. Herp Count: Pratt County: KHS-2020-05. Collinsorum 9(3):12.
Taggart, Travis W and Sarah L Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Hamilton County: KHS-2020-10. Collinsorum 9(3):13.
Taggart, Travis W and Sarah L Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Morton County: KHS-2020-12. Collinsorum 9(3):13.
Taggart, Travis W and Sarah L Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Seward County: KHS-2020-13. Collinsorum 9(3):13.
Taggart, Travis W and Sarah L Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Stanton County: KHS-2020-10. Collinsorum 9(3):13.
Falcon, Melanie. 2021. Herp Count: McPherson County: KHS-2020-17. Collinsorum 9(3):14.
Taggart, Travis W. 2021. Herp Count: Russell County: KHS-2020-24. Collinsorum 9(3):14-15.
Taggart, Megan M. and Travis W. Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Seward County: KHS-2020-27. Collinsorum 9(3):15.
Riedle, J. Daren, Tamera D. Riedle, Zachary Riedle, and Greya Riedle. 2021. Herp Count: Stafford County: KHS-2020-34. Collinsorum 9(3):16.
Bezy, Robert L. 2021. Thoughts on Gophersnakes. Sonoran Herpetologist 34(4):111-122.
Russell, Elisabeth. 2023. Habitat associations and fine-scale movements of the Red-spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) in Kansas and the efficacy of remote telemetry for monitoring small-scale movements. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 81 pp.