A local business discovered this Bull Snake in their parking lot today and called police, who promptly brought it to Springbrook for us to determine what to do with it.
Bull Snakes are Minnesota's largest native snake, and used to be common around Springbrook. Development has made most disappear, but this one was healthy and large at 60 inches long.
The area where it was found is fully developed and the chances of another encounter with people very high. The next encounter might not turn out so well for the snake, so I took it to Springbrook's south prairie and released it there. There are lots of gophers there for it to eat, and other bull snakes.
Bull Snakes are often called Gopher Snakes because of their habit of eating pocket gophers. Their nose is more pointed than most snakes to help push into gopher mounds and then down into their tunnels.
Bull Snakes are constricters, and find their prey mostly by smell. Their tongue is forked as this picture shows. With the tougue shaped like this, the snake can determine which direction, right or left, smells best, for safety or food. The snake is constantly smelling with its tongue to re-evaluate its options and make decisions as it moves through its world.
They are excellant at rodent control, so I hope this one can find a good place to overwinter, and then finds Springbrook to be a good home.
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