Jon Rainey, age 9, of Montgomery, Ala., for his question:

IS THE BULL SNAKE POISONOUS?

Bull snake is a common name for a number of snakes found in many parts of the United States. The snake is definitely not poisonous. In fact, the creature earns a "harmless" rating from zoologists.

The bull snake varies 1n length from five to eight feet and in color from whitish to pale brown with dark blotches.

You'll find the bull snake living primarily in agricultural areas. It preys on rodents that are destructive to crops.

Three common species of bull snake found in the U. S. include the gopher snake, found in the central states; the western bull snake which is found on the West Coast; and the pine snake, a resident of the East and Gulf coasts.

The unique hissing mechanism of the bull snake consists of an erectile filament in front of the windpipe that vibrates as air is exhaled, producing an extremely loud and sharp hiss.