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Common Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta)
Yellow Rat Snake Photograph by Ltshears. License: Public Domain. (view image details) 
Black Rat Snake Photograph by Fritz Geller-Grimm. Some rights reserved. (view image details)
COMMON RAT SNAKE FACTS
DescriptionThe Common Rat Snake is one of the largest snakes in North America. It has a slender body and a wedge-shaped head. There are a number of color variations: The Black Rat Snake is all black except for a white chin and throat; hatchlings are pale grey with black blotches along its back. The Yellow Rat Snake is yellow with four brown stripes along the back, and has a black tongue; hatchlings are similar to those of the black rat snake. The Everglades Rat Snake is orange or orange-yellow with indistinct gray stripes along the body, and has a red tongue; young snakes are pink. The Gray Rat Snake is pale gray with dark gray or brown blotches. Other Names Black Rat Snake, Yellow Rat Snake, Gray Rat Snake, Everglades Rat Snake, Pantherophis obsoletus Size average 105cm - 180cm. Can grow to about 240cm. Environment heavily wooded areas, rocky hillsides, farmland. It is a good climber and can climb the trunk of large trees without assistance of branches. Food The Common Rat Snake is a constrictor. It feeds on mice, rats, Also eats other snakes, chipmunks, squirrels, birds and bird eggs. Breeding The female lays about 12 to 20 eggs which hatch about 65 to 70 days. Range The Common Rat Snake is found in the eastern half of the United States. It ranges from Maine to Florida in the east across to Wisconsin and down through Nebraska to Texas in the west. It is also found in southern Canada. Notes The Common Rat Snake is non-venomous and usually non-aggressive. If cornered they will shake their tails and strike. Rat snakes are popular in the pet trade. They are fairly docile in captivity and popular with novices and reptile collectors. Classification
Relatives in same Genus Baird's Rat Snake (E. bairdi) Emory's Rat Snake (E. emoryi) Corn Snake (E. guttata) Texas Rat Snake (E. obsoleta lindheimeri) Western Fox Snake (E. vulpina) Home | Mammals | Reptiles | Birds | Insects | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Us |