Gary -

In Idaho, commonly called a bullsnake. Accepted common name is (one word) gophersnake. Latin is Pituophis catenifer. Used to be Pituophis melanoleucus. Interestingly, Pituophis translates to Pine Snake, but I've never heard 'em called that.

Hope this helps....

Jack

Wow Jack your bull snakes look different then the ones at the north end of the state. What I have always called a bull snake is dull gray with no markings at all.

Just googled it and you are right Jack. Now I have to figure out what my snake is.

Sundance -

Give me a good description. I've caught snakes by the hundreds (thousands) throughout Idaho for many decades. Wait a couple minutes, and I'll post an image of a "gray" snake from north Idaho.

Sundance - This the one?

The Pine Snakes are their southeastern cousins.

I don't know western species but my money says some sort of racer aka Coluber species. The smooth scales and eyebrow are distinctive.

Gulo,that grey snake looks like a pair of boots I owned back in the 70's.

Warrior -

Indeed, the snake in the photo I posted earlier is a western racer (Coluber constrictor mormon). Good call. The only other "grey" snake that lives where Sundance is might be a Rubber Boa (Charina bottae). I've never heard of either the racer or the rubber boa referred to as "bullsnake" however. Here's a recent rubber boa for comparison.

I've always wanted to handle one of those rubber or rosy boas. Cool looking snakes.

warrior -

Yes, the rubber boas and the rosy boas are unique. Don't feel at all like any other snakes I've ever handled. Too, the males have tiny spurs next to their vents that are vestigial legs. At first glance, difficult to tell tail end from head end. Also, a researcher in Oregon has data (and has published) that indicates they live up to 70 years of age. Fascinating snakes.

Jack, really like those rubber boas. Cannot wait to find one ! As you have mentioned , however, it needs to warm up considerably before they would be seen on the path. Though I for one, am reveling in this cool refreshing weather !

Racer was also my guess.

Taximan -

Over on your side of the hill, you've got eastern racers (according to the "experts") rather than western racers. In my opinion, they are basically one-in-the-same. I'm just barely on the west slope of the Continental Divide (3 miles from my place to the Divide), and I have no doubt that the eastern and westerns cross back and forth through Lemhi and Bannock Passes. I've caught them right at Lemhi Pass (>7,000' elevation), and right now, I don't buy the argument that they are "different" sub-species of snakes. Morphologically, I can tell no differences. You also got the rubber boas over there?

Jack

Our Nebraska bullsnakes are a little different.

Excellent photo, Gary. Where, may I ask, did you take the Idaho bullsnake photo? It seems to have much more black on the dorsal surface than most I encounter. Generally, our bullsnakes do indeed look more like your Nebraska example.

Gary -

More typical coloration of Idaho bullsnake, Pituophis catenifer.

Amazing , how those colours just blend right in with the sand and pebbles. It would be about impossible to see them until they move.

A Nebraska transplant lives out there near Emmett, Idaho sent me the picture, wondering what kind of snake it was. She's thinking it may be bright because it just shed it's skin.