Bull Snake Habitats

Bull snakes have numerous habitat options since they live in a wide area of the U.S. They can be found in the central plains, the dry regions of the southwest and even as far north as Canada. They are huge snakes that can get up to 8 feet in length. They are known for being good hunters, and farmers often like them for their ability to capture mice and rats.

  1. Prairie

    • Bull snakes often live in grassy prairie areas as well as sandy prairies. Sandy prairies are good for bull snakes because they can burrow easily in the loose soil. They are becoming harder to find in states like Iowa, which once was mostly prairie, but that land has been cultivated into farm land. Prairie lands provide bull snakes with the space and prey they need.

    Wooded Areas

    • Bull snakes often live near or in wooded areas. Wooded areas are often good sources of food for bull snakes since they eat mice, rats, birds and occasionally birds' eggs. Bull snakes also tend to take cover during the warmest parts of the day, with forested areas providing a lot of cover options, such as under bushes and fallen trees.

    Desert Areas

    • Bull snakes can be found in the desert areas of the southwest U.S. The sand is easy for them to burrow into, making it possible for them to create shelters. They can be seen in desert flats or around coastal dunes. There is still plenty of prey for them in desert areas as well, but they do have to stay protected from the sun. In the desert they do most of their hunting during cool periods of the day.

    Winter Dens

    • In the northern U.S. and in colder areas, bull snakes hibernate in snake dens during the winter. They also use these dens when it first starts to warm up after winter. These dens are normally in rocky areas where a burrow is created below the frost line. Bull snakes use the same burrow every winter, and multiple snakes, including other species, may be in the burrows with them. It is not uncommon to see many bull snakes sunning themselves right after winter on the rocks near their winter shelter.