Not a bunch of bull

  Yes, the Bullsnake (Pituophis Melanoleucus sp.) has always been and probably will forever continue to be a favorite of mine, snake-wise.

Not a native of New England the bullsnake nevertheless remains a common if sometimes elusive denizen throughout much of it's range.

That range is most of the upper and lower Midwest as well as down into much of the Southwest and even beyond.  (Although the farther west and south you go the more taxonomists seem to be confused and divided as far as what is the dominant form of the bullsnake and what are variations that should be classified as separate species or subspecies.)

 The bullsnake itself when fully grown is an impressive animal. Adults typically average around 37-72 inches but have been known to go up to 100 inches. Coloring is typically a solid yellowish marked with reddish brown, black, or brown dorsal blotches set in a series where they are strongest in contrast to the snakes base color;  both ends closest the snakes head and tail.

Actual patterning and color can vary quite a bit depending on region where the snake is found. For example, the farther east you go is where the snakes tend to be darker, whereas in arid regions the color tends to be paler.

Habitat is most often plains, prairies, and other such open tracts of land (farmland especially as food is often abundant there) Clumps of vegetation, human refuse and other such things serve as cover for the snake when it is not active, which could be day or night depending on region and time of year.

 However, even when the snake is hunting and also where it seems most at home is in the already dug burrows of small mammals (prairie dogs, pocket gophers, etc) this is one reason why this snake is considered rare in certain parts of its range. But it is in fact simply able to keep a low profile in spite of its rather large size.

Diet for this species as you may now have guessed is basically any sort of small mammal the snake can overpower, even when first born bullsnakes are not particularly small or helpless and can often begin feeding on small rodents right away (many of them are just born too, of course) but have been known to take other more readily available fare (lizards, and even insects).

Adults do sometimes take birds and eggs as well. They are efficient, powerful constrictors with a rather wide girth and can easily subdue and swallow prey larger than you might expect, again they seem to do this best in the enclosed space of a burrow where they have the advantage of pinning the victim against the sides with their strong coils.

Being a non venomous species, the bullsnake is entirely harmless to people and may in fact be one of the most beneficial, with the snakes size and appetite even at a young age they often eat numerous pest species in a short time period when available.

In some cases, that means the entire nest of young and the parents of those young too. Although the bullsnake is not on the decline throughout most of its range, let’s keep in mind it's (only) good qualities and allow it to exist an animal, which is in its own way simply fantastic.

Come on down to the Orange Country Fair

There's a lot more than great livestock in store for you there

 I’ve always said that fairs, whether they be state, town or county, are places that bring out the widest variety of people, rivaled probably only by Wal-Mart in this regard.
What that tends to tell me this is that whatever background someone comes from we all tend to be drawn toward similar things when it comes to fairs.
This could be many things but depending on where you go, animals seem to play a big part in a fair’s layout and have throughout history.
Obviously most of this involves livestock that play into a fair’s agricultural aspect, which again depending on where you go can be quite extensive. Although I do know a little bit about livestock and will perhaps one day write a blog about certain things pertaining to it, that it will be for another time.
But to the best of my knowledge, The Orange Country Fair as it is called, that takes place two days a year in Orange Conn. (this year Sept. 17 and 18) is the only fair in the Northeast perhaps in the U.S. that has a full tent devoted to snakes/reptiles.
I got involved with this some years back through knowing well the original proprietor of this (George “Doc” Whitney) and have since worked there for the two days that it is up, as well as providing a variety of animals to display there.
The purpose of this is education - to give the public a better understanding of the things they clearly want to see but may have mixed feelings about.
People, it seems often, don’t like to be "told" things. However many do seem to want to know things when they get the chance to ask the questions, and this is why the fair is great for such things because it allows people to enter the exhibit entirely on their own free will see things the way they want to: safely contained behind glass.
If they choose to they can ask questions about the subjects to the people staffing the exhibit - which would be me. I am equipped with the knowledge to answer questions regarding the basic and some not so basic aspects on various animals and their behavior.
As I noted at the beginning, people from various backgrounds attend fairs without fail every time they are held and I have noticed that almost everyone does walk through the reptile tent at least once.
So what does this mean? Well as I have said before in a previous blog, although people don't always think about it, most do want to do what they can to better understand the world around.
This often helps them to better understand themselves at the same time.
This is good for me as it is one great way to get my personal message to the most people.
The fair will be held September 17th and 18th and I will be there all hours on both days.
Stop by if you want to meet me personally, it’s a good time for me to chat with you a few minutes if you want to!