There are various venomous snakes around the world. Australia's snake population makes up some of the riskiest animal encounters in the country. Of the most dangerous animals in the US, snakes are not often mentioned.
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Surprisingly, when it comes to dangerous wildlife encounters in national parks, snakes do not make the list. This is because, despite the large population of snakes, very few species are venomous. Those that are, however, can pack a punch when it comes to their bites, something that a few visitors to Yellowstone know well after being bitten by a prairie rattlesnake. But is the largest snake in Yellowstone National Park actually dangerous? Fortunately, for park visitors, that answer is a resounding no.
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The Bullsnake In Yellowstone National Park Is Not Dangerous
Bullsnakes at Yellowstone National Park are not dangerous
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With its massive size and the number of different ecosystems Yellowstone National Park has, many would believe Yellowstone is the largest national park in the US. However, Yellowstone National Park is not the largest national park. This distinction goes to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
With millions of acres of land, Yellowstone is not small and with the vast amount of acreage, there are a variety of animals that call Yellowstone home. Some animals are very docile while others at the national park are considered dangerous. From their size or the fact that they are venomous, there is no doubt that if encountered and startled, there are animals in Yellowstone that could cause problems for humans.
Some of the most dangerous animals at Yellowstone National Park include:
Bison Grizzly Bear Black Bear Moose Elk Wolves
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There is one animal missing from the list. That animal is a rattlesnake. What animal is not dangerous, however, is the bullsnake.
Adult bullsnakes can look very intimidating as a result of their size. At up to eight feet long, bullsnakes are not small snakes and are the largest of all the snakes found at Yellowstone National Park. Because of this, it is not uncommon for people who encounter bullsnakes to be afraid of them.
Bullsnakes are not venomous. Bullsnakes can constrict their prey instead. They would prefer to stay away from humans, and live in grasslands where their burrows are, rather than try and defend themselves.
But, if bullsnakes are put in the position to defend themselves, they have come up with a very ingenious way to do so. This trick is to mimic other venomous snakes, causing most predators to give them a wide berth.
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The Bullsnake Mimics Other Dangerous Snakes
The bullsnake can mimic the rattlesnake, causing predators to leave it alone
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To protect themselves, bullsnakes have the uncanny ability to mimic other snakes. However, it is not just any snakes that they are mimicking. Bullsnakes have chosen venomous snakes to mimic. This is meant to keep people and predators at a distance and, for the most part, helps to protect the nonvenomous bullsnake.
Bullsnakes look a great deal like rattlesnakes. The coloring, in conjunction with their actions when they get scared, is why many bullsnakes get mistaken for rattlesnakes.
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The ways that bullsnakes imitate rattlesnakes include:
Vibrating their tail on dry grass or leaves to sound like a rattle Coiling up Striking with mouth closed Spread head to look more triangular
These actions are meant to protect bullsnakes from predators. But, when humans come in contact with them, there is a level of fear that these are dangerous snakes. Consequently, the bullsnakes are sometimes killed due to mistaken identity.
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How To Tell The Difference Between Bullsnakes And Rattlesnakes
There are several differences between the two snakes, but the biggest is the rattle that rattlesnakes have and bullsnakes do not
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It is recommended to stear clear of any snake if uncertain what species it is. However, there are some stark differences between the rattlesnake and bullsnake that make differentiating the venomous snake from the nonvenomous one easier to do.
The similarities and differences between the rattlesnake and bullsnake include:
Rattlesnakes
Bullsnakes
Brown or gray coloring
Black, brown, or gray coloring
Three to six feet long
Up to eight feet long
Move in an "S" pattern
Move in an "S" pattern
Coil when afraid
Coil when afraid
Found throughout the US
Found in the South and West of the US
Triangular head
Pointed snouts that give them a triangular-looking head when afraid
Eyes have long, narrow slit pupils
Round eyes with dark, round pupils
Rattles on tails
No rattles on tails
Lives in den
Lives in burrow
Venomous
Not venomous
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It is easy to see why the two snakes get confused for one another. But with some quick identification, those interested will be able to see that while there are similarities between the two snakes, there are stark differences as well.
Where Bullsnakes Are Found In Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is made up of six very different regions. With 2.2 million acres in the national park, each region is expansive. Therefore, it makes sense that the wildlife that lives in each area is diverse as well.
The six different areas of Yellowstone National Park include:
Bechler Region Canyon Region Geyser Region Lake Region Mammoth Region Roosevelt Region
Of the six country areas in Yellowstone, the bullsnake can only be found in Mammoth. The reason for this has to do with the climate in this area.
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Mammoth is at a lower elevation than other areas of the national park. It also happens to be warmer, drier, and has more open field areas where there are plenty of burrows to investigate for prey or to build a home of their own.
For those who love to see snakes in the wild, Yellowstone National Park has its fair share. But to see the biggest snake in the park, which just happens to not be dangerous, the northern portion of Yellowstone is where visitors need to go to see bullsnakes truly be in their element.