Native to arid regions of the United States, the bullsnake is known for its amazing ability of mimicking the dreaded rattlesnake with whom it shares its natural habitat. The typical flattening of its head, S-shaped strike stance, loud hissing sound, movement of its tail, and intense aggression -- everything is so perfect that you are bound to get fooled if you ever come across one. In fact, the bullsnake mimics the rattler so well that it is often mistaken for the latter, and killed by humans; that, sadly, is the plight of this species. The bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) is a sub-species of the gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer), which is predominantly found in North America. It is a non-venomous species, which kills its prey by squeezing it to death. With an average length of 8 ft., the bullsnake is one of the largest snake species in the United States. Bullsnakes may not be as popular as ball pythons, or the corn snakes for that matter, but people do keep them as pets. Many breeders in the United States breed this species in captivity, so it is not at all difficult to get one. However, you need to check whether it is legal to keep this species as pet in your area, because certain states, like Iowa for instance, prohibit this by law. If you have the slightest doubt about your ability to handle this species, which is known for its temperament, you should drop the idea. If not, you can go ahead, but you will have to make sure that you abide by certain norms. » A glass cage, which is at least 8×4 ft in size, will be an ideal home for your pet bullsnake. The same should be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week. The bullsnake, being a burrowing species, will require a few places to hide. You can use aspen shavings, or ground walnut husks as a substrate; that will serve the purpose. » The temperature within this cage should be between 75 °F to 87 °F. You can use heating pad, or heat lamps, to keep the cage warm. Using a fluorescent light, will help you create a light cycle resembling the natural light cycle in wild. Ideal humidity levels will be 30-50 percent in normal circumstances and 30-40 percent when the snake is shedding. » You will have to provide clean drinking water for your pet bullsnake every day. The bowl should be large enough for the species to soak itself if necessary. As for feeding, it can be fed frozen/thawed rodents every once in two weeks. You should never feed a live rodent to your pet snake, as its bite can turn out to be fatal for your pet in the long run. » You should ideally avoid handling the snake for a day, or two, after you have fed it, as doing so is likely to make the snake regurgitate. Your pet snake will also regurgitate if it is subjected to unnecessary stress soon after it has been fed. Experts are also of the opinion that handling a snake right after it has been fed may result in the species losing interest in feeding. Other than these facts, there exist some myths about this species that you need to be aware of. That it kills and eats rattlesnakes is one of the most popular bullsnake myths that you are likely to come across. It is believed that such myths were intentionally spread to protect the species from human onslaught as they play a crucial role in keeping a check on the number of rats, mice, and other vermin in the surroundings. Caution: Even if you have theoretical knowledge about snake identification by characteristics, you should not try to handle these reptiles -- venomous, or non-venomous, without proper guidance.