---
title: "Bull Snake Bandit"
description: "Photographer Adam Johnson caught this daring bull snake robbing swallows beneath a bridge."
date: "2010-08-26"
modified: "2010-08-26"
authors:
  - name: "Outdoor Life Staff"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/outdoor-life-staff/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/gallery/hunting/2010/08/bull-snake-bandit/"
categories:
  - "Animal Attacks"
  - "Survival"
---

# Bull Snake Bandit

![](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/K6CJ6KX45VL2GYSHU6DURHXRDA.jpg>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo10013215791_Bull_Gopher_Snake_-_Loma_Bridge_-_7-11-20101.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/AREHWXEWYPJJCOXB3WB6Y6J6JU.jpg>)
*I pulled over at the Loma bridge fishing access site just outside of the UMBNM north of Fort Benton MT on Sunday afternoon around 4:30PM to photograph the cliff swallows tending thier nests.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo10013215792_Bull_Gopher_Snake_-_Loma_Bridge_-_7-11-20102.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/ZESZKGSHBO7DBZC4QLQ6UGCWTM.jpg>)
*What I found was an enormous Bull Snake fishing for cliff swallows from 30 feet above the racing Missouri River.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo10013215793_Bull_Gopher_Snake_-_Loma_Bridge_-_7-11-20103.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/TI7FCI6LF62ZAKOQLJWEN5FWA4.jpg>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo10013215794_Bull_Gopher_Snake_-_Loma_Bridge_-_7-11-20104.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/EDLMWOTRSBS62RA2ZQ4HI6UW3E.jpg>)
*I observed it for more than two hours slink in and out of about five nests consuming the chicks.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images2010085_Bull_Gopher_Snake_-_Loma_Bridge_-_7-11-20105_0.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/CGNNIZBZ22V35FFFN6YEJ5NEQQ.jpg>)
*Bulge after bulge running down it's body.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images2010086_Bull_Gopher_Snake_-_Loma_Bridge_-_7-11-20106_0.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/MZ2WPLEVYI37EM2VMUKN325P7A.jpg>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images2010087_Bull_Gopher_Snake_-_Loma_Bridge_-_7-11-20107_0.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/F2DZQ2YICLGWG3AHOKDJKH7TJQ.jpg>)
*You have to admire his daringness.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo10013215798_Bull_Gopher_Snake_-_Loma_Bridge_-_7-11-20108.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/DY5SKY2BSQDA2YTMXF34R6NWCQ.jpg>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo10013215799_Bull_Gopher_Snake_-_Loma_Bridge_-_7-11-20109.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/UYRKLL2H5F2BX624O6F274TQMM.jpg>)
*Then snap, he grabed one of the adult swallows who had dared to swoop by to pester his dining.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images20100810_Bull_Gopher_Snake_-_Loma_Bridge_-_7-11-201010_0.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/JJ7HR5VRXASMWMYNX6WFASVX6Y.jpg>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images20100811_Bull_Gopher_Snake_-_Loma_Bridge_-_7-11-201011_0.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/OSKQYWVEPDFRL5YRHFZFTGW36U.jpg>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images20100812_Bull_Gopher_Snake_-_Loma_Bridge_-_7-11-201012_0.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/IZXRKI4CZYNMPWUNG5DVPFSIPI.jpg>)
*When it had had its fill it kicked itself free and dropped into the rushing river.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images20100813_Bull_Gopher_Snake_-_Loma_Bridge_-_7-11-201013_0.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/IEW4H4QER4KUXJJNYQANIERU5I.jpg>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images20100814_Bull_Gopher_Snake_-_Loma_Bridge_-_7-11-201014_0.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/WM5SW2TBNRLTWM3BB2RWTYEIZM.jpg>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo100132157915_Bull_Gopher_Snake_-_Loma_Bridge_-_7-11-201015.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/M66SLBJKPWQ7FFD7X7OEUDWBNY.jpg>)
*It was a truley incredible behavior to observe and a magnificent specimen.*