I LOVE the Pituophis! You can pick up the larger ones here and they act like a tame pet. The smaller ones will sometime give you a couple of half hearted strikes that usually miss, but even they calm down in seconds.
I've not handled the wild bulls from the east coast, but CB ones are pretty awesome snakes. Thanks for the pics. Protect that little one. You'll have fewer rodents with him lurking about.
We love seeing him here b/c We know he has some Vole-eating brothers and sisters around too! We don't keep any animals anymore other than Matt the box turtle. It's ok though, they live here so we will see him again. I warmed him up and put him in with Matt where birds etc can't get to him for a bit. There are bugs and stuff for him to eat in peace. He slithered under Matt's shell as he disappeared into the undergrowth of Matt enclosure. Matt wasn't impressed enough to move. Lol
Speaking of seeing the animals again...i saw Bob the black snake behind my shed stalking a small toad. I'm pretty sure it was the same snake but i don't know how big their ranges are. We usually see him outside running guard duty around the perimeter of our house.