View Full Version : Snake identification needed - seen on AT near PA850 (Valley Road)
On Sunday, 7/22/12 I encountered a snake on the AT very near PA850 (Valley Rd, Marysville, PA) and took 2 good photos. I was hoping someone on the site could identify it. Any herpetologists out there? Thanks
Sidewinder
07-24-2012, 09:37
It's a Black Rat snake, no venomous, but acts bad ass
I agree- a black rat snake:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantherophis_obsoletus
rocketsocks
07-24-2012, 09:41
oooooh, he's Pissed !...yep agree looks like maybe a "Black Rat Snake"....Cool photo, nice catch!
Oh, and :welcometo White Blaze
Thanks for the quick responses and the welcomes. I did think it was a black rat snake. I got close enough to cause it to rear up, but not strike. I wasn't close enough to see if it had vertical eye slits like the pit vipers. Of course, I left it there to eat some more rodents. The coloration seemed to have a very light diamond pattern, so I was undecided on the black rat snake or something else. Thanks again for the help.
WingedMonkey
07-24-2012, 10:19
I got close enough to cause it to rear up, but not strike. I wasn't close enough to see if it had vertical eye slits like the pit vipers.
Next time you might want to do that in reverse order.
:p
Compared it with some pictures, agreeing on either a rat snake or a black racer.
doritotex
07-24-2012, 12:08
vipers. Of course, I left it there to eat some more rodents.
Were you thinking of killing it? Just because you have a fear of snakes?
Were you thinking of killing it? Just because you have a fear of snakes?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's the opposite of what he intended to do.
Pedaling Fool
07-24-2012, 15:34
Thanks for the quick responses and the welcomes. I did think it was a black rat snake. I got close enough to cause it to rear up, but not strike. I wasn't close enough to see if it had vertical eye slits like the pit vipers. Of course, I left it there to eat some more rodents. The coloration seemed to have a very light diamond pattern, so I was undecided on the black rat snake or something else. Thanks again for the help.It's common for them to do that, but they rarely strike. They also rattle their tail, but they don't have a rattle, but you can hear it if they're in heavy brush and rattling their tail against it. That's how I got this pic; I would of never have seen him, but I heard some rattling so I started looking in the brush and there he was
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/6/9/3/6/05-28-06152401.JPG (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showimage.php?i=17951&original=1&catid=member&imageuser=6936)
WingedMonkey
07-24-2012, 15:41
It's common for them to do that, but they rarely strike. They also rattle their tail, but they don't have a rattle, but you can hear it if they're in heavy brush and rattling their tail against it. That's how I got this pic; I would of never have seen him, but I heard some rattling so I started looking in the brush and there he was
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/6/9/3/6/05-28-06152401.JPG (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showimage.php?i=17951&original=1&catid=member&imageuser=6936)
That's a Black Racer.
That's a Black Racer.
I think the black racer only has a white patch under the head with the rest of the snakes underside black.
The snake pictured in the OP has a white underbelly. That would be more indicative of a black rat snake.
WingedMonkey
07-24-2012, 16:58
I think the black racer only has a white patch under the head with the rest of the snakes underside black.
The snake pictured in the OP has a white underbelly. That would be more indicative of a black rat snake.
The OP pic is a Black Rat Snake, JG's pic and description is a Black Racer.
WingedMonkey
07-24-2012, 18:16
I should be more clear about Gault's pic and ID it as a Southern Black Racer. They have a light colored slate to blue gray underside. I understand that Northern Black Racers may have a dark underside, and there are even yellow-bellied racers are found in the Central U.S.
Were you thinking of killing it? Just because you have a fear of snakes?
Never even thought of killing it! And I was very close when I took that picture, so I wasn't afraid. I only have a fear of poisonous snakes and keep my distance from them. However, there are a few neighborhood destructive squirrels this snake could constrict for me, but I didn't have a snake bag with me, LoL.
KING Cobra ... for sure...not lol
Pedaling Fool
07-25-2012, 09:36
I should be more clear about Gault's pic and ID it as a Southern Black Racer. They have a light colored slate to blue gray underside. I understand that Northern Black Racers may have a dark underside, and there are even yellow-bellied racers are found in the Central U.S.I agree that that may be a Southern Black Racer or it may be a black rat, I don't know, because I don't get that much into separating snake species, that are so similar in appearance and mannerism. At that point my interest tends to wane :D
..., JG's pic and description is a Black Racer.
However, with respect to "description", if by that you're talking about the rattling of the tail. I've read about that behavior about both black snakes (racers and rats). So in a sense it doesn't really matter to me since they look very much a like and their mannerism, with respect to coiling up for a strike and rattling the tail, is very much the same.
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Blackratsnake.cfm
WingedMonkey
07-25-2012, 11:24
[QUOTE=john gault;1316365] I don't know, because I don't get that much into separating snake species, that are so similar in appearance and mannerism. At that point my interest tends to wane :D/QUOTE]
The best way to tell the difference is to grab the snake. The rat snake will not bite you, the Black Racer will bite you again and again, even after you let go.
:sun
WingedMonkey
07-25-2012, 11:30
The Black Rat Snake is one of several subspecies of Ratsnakes (Yellow and Gray Ratsnakes are others). Ratsnakes are common throughout the eastern U.S., although the black subspecies of rat snake does not occur in Florida
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw251
Bootbanger
07-25-2012, 19:14
So, if it bites then it is a racer....... I would rather get educated in snake identification. Actually it is a common black snake, scientific name is Pantherophis obsoletus. They can grow in excess of 6 to 8 feet long. They are not venomous, but do have a bite that will make you wish you didn't mess with it. It is a very easy snake to handle. I would not recommend bringing harm to this snake. For if there are black snakes in the vicinity, then you can almost be assured that there will not be copperheads present. A copperhead holds no match to the Black Snake. BTW I am a game warden and have dealt with the black snake on several occasions. I would just let it go where it needs to go and you do the same; you both will be happy in the end.
Bootbanger
07-25-2012, 19:17
Not so good advice, but made me laugh. Thanks for the tickle.
[QUOTE=john gault;1316365] I don't know, because I don't get that much into separating snake species, that are so similar in appearance and mannerism. At that point my interest tends to wane :D/QUOTE]
The best way to tell the difference is to grab the snake. The rat snake will not bite you, the Black Racer will bite you again and again, even after you let go.
:sun
Hairbear
07-25-2012, 19:39
That's a Black Racer.very cool pictures thanks for posting
looks like its been hanging out with rattlers
rmitchell
07-27-2012, 23:07
We had one in our chicken house this weekend. My wife thought the hens were hiding their eggs, then two ceramic eggs went missing. Our son caught the black snake in the act of trying to swallow a large MARBLE egg.
He captured the snake with a pick-stic and put it in a 5 gallon bucket. We decided to relocate the snake. After putting the bucket in the back of my truck, we drove a mile to a neighbor. No he already had a resident black snake, so we drove further down the road to release him. When we took lid off the bucket he was gone. Pulled a Harry Houdini and escaped a sealed (we thought) bucket.
Old Hiker
07-28-2012, 00:02
We had one in our chicken house this weekend. My wife thought the hens were hiding their eggs, then two ceramic eggs went missing. Our son caught the black snake in the act of trying to swallow a large MARBLE egg.
He captured the snake with a pick-stic and put it in a 5 gallon bucket. We decided to relocate the snake. After putting the bucket in the back of my truck, we drove a mile to a neighbor. No he already had a resident black snake, so we drove further down the road to release him. When we took lid off the bucket he was gone. Pulled a Harry Houdini and escaped a sealed (we thought) bucket.
So now you have a truck with a highly pissed off snake hiking inside who was brutally and forceably kidnapped, jailed (just 'cause I can't spell incarcerated) and relocated from his/her native land. Tch, tch. Remind me NOT to catch a ride with you guys any time soon.
I did the same with a coral snake a neighbor found in her pool skimmer in the middle of our subdivision. Yes, coral snake, pool skimmer and subdivision. I was found to be mentally incompetent by the neighbors.
Nice pictures - great story. Natural rodent control!
rmitchell
07-28-2012, 07:42
My son insisted that we put the bucket in the bed of my pickup, not in the truck of his Saturn sedan. :eek: Had he have not been poaching eggs I would have left him alone for rodent controll.
So now you have a truck with a highly pissed off snake hiking inside who was brutally and forceably kidnapped, jailed (just 'cause I can't spell incarcerated) and relocated from his/her native land. Tch, tch. Remind me NOT to catch a ride with you guys any time soon.
I did the same with a coral snake a neighbor found in her pool skimmer in the middle of our subdivision. Yes, coral snake, pool skimmer and subdivision. I was found to be mentally incompetent by the neighbors.
Nice pictures - great story. Natural rodent control!
Also known as a chicken snake here in the south.