I had a similar experience with young, less than a 12 inch long, Bullsnake AKA Gopher Snake, in Mojave high Desert back in 1971or 1972, CRS.
I've caught a bunch of snakes when I was a kid with no issues, that little rascal was ferocious hissing and striking and struck at me many times, it was in late October and had starting getting cold out but he didn't know it shock I caught it and put it in a bottle with some holes punch into the lid and took it to work the next day to ask one of our Foreman who was an American Indian rancher/cowboy also. He identified it and I took it home and let it go up
My wife had a horse at that time and those snakes catch and eat mice which get into the hay: rant The snake should have been a helper on keeping them in control up:

Last edited by Cab_Burge; 07/05/23 10:37 PM.
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)