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Rat snake

Common rat snakes live in a variety of habitats because each subspecies prefers a slightly different habitat. Some of these habitats overlap with one another. Common rat snakes are excellent climbers and will spend a lot of time in trees. Black rat snakes live at all elevations, from sea level to altitudes in the Appalachian Mountains. The black rat snakes lives in habitats ranging from a rocky hillside of mountains to flat farmland. The yellow rat snake is well established, living in oak hammocks, cut-over woods, fields, and around barns and abandoned houses. However, yellow rat snakes prefer a life in river swamps of the South, where they live high in cypress and other trees. Gray rat snakes replace the black rat snake in southern habitats suitable for black rat snakes. The Texas rat snake's habitat ranges from bayou and swampy areas to woods and stream valleys to rocky canyons. The Everglades rat snake makes its home in the Kissimmee Prairie and the Florida Everglades. In this habitat they can be found in trees and shrubs along the waterways, in the sawgrass, and on open prairies.

Rat snake
The common rat snake is medium-sized, averaging 42-72 inches (106.7-183 cm) in length. At the widest point of the snake's body, the average diameter is 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) . Covered with keeled scales, common rat snakes have a powerful slender body with a wedge-shaped head. At the middle of the snake's body, there are 29 or fewer scale rows. In most rat snakes, there are 8 supralabials, and over 220 ventral scales, with 70 to 100 subcaudals. The anal plate (scale) of the common rat snake is divided. These snakes come in a variety of subspecies, each of which will be briefly described here.
The black rat snake, as the name states, is completely black except for their white chin. Hatchlings of the black rat snake have a pale grey background with black blotches along its back. As the snake matures, the color becomes darker until the snake reaches its adult phase.
The yellow rat snake has four well-defined longitudinal stripes extending down the length of its back. The base color varies from dull to bright yellow. The tongue, of the yellow rat snake, is black. Hatchlings are similar to those of the black rat snake, however, as the hatchlings mature, the dark spots fade as the yellow coloration and longitudinal stripes become more prominent.
The Everglades rat snake has a bright orange ground color. In some specimens, the color may appear more orange-yellow. This rat snake has grayish longitudinal stripes, which are not well defined and are often hard to see. The tongue is red. Juvenile Everglades rat snake are a pinkish color.
The gray rat snake keeps the blotched juvenile pattern its entire life. The blotches will vary between dark gray and brown. Juvenile black and yellow rat snakes are often mistaken as juvenile gray rat snakes.
The Texas rat snake is similar to the gray rat snake, however the blotches are usually less defined. The head of the Texas rat snake is often black. The juveniles of this subspecies have a much darker gray ground color.

Reproduction
Like most snakes, rat snakes are egg layers. Between March and May, snakes will begin to emerge from the winter's hibernation. After a few weeks, the common rat snakes will begin to seek out a mate, typically in late April, May, and early June. Males tend to wait for the females to pass through their territory, and by using pheromones, will communicate and initiate the mating process with the female. The male snake will approach the female, line up with her and attempt to wrap his tail around hers with their vents nearly touching. Some males will grasp the female, with his mouth, to hold her in place and prevent her from trying to move away. The male will then erect his hemipene and insert it into the female's cloaca while several small spines anchor the hemipene firmly. Mating can last only a few minutes or it can span the time of a few hours. Five weeks later, the female will lay around 12 to 20 eggs. The female will lay her eggs in a hidden area, under hollow logs or leaves, or in abandoned burrows. The eggs will hatch 65 to 70 days later. The hatchlings of common rat snakes are vigorous eaters and will double their size rather quickly. If conditions are good, females will sometimes produce two clutches of eggs a year.

Behavior
Common rat snakes tend to be shy and, if possible, will avoid being confronted. If these snakes are seen and confronted by danger, they tend to freeze and remain motionless. There are those adults who will attempt to protect themselves. They will coil their body and vibrate their tails in dead leaves to simulate a rattle. If the snakes continue to get provoked, they will strike. Rat snakes produce a foul-smelling musk and will release it on the predator if they are picked up. The snake will then spread the musk around with their tail. The musk acts as a deterrent. A few of the rat snake sub-species tend to be more aggressive. The Texas rat snake and the black rat snake are very snappy, while the yellow rat snake is more passive. When alarmed, the Everglades rat snake will swim away through the swampy waters.

Food Habits
Rat snakes are primarily known as rodent eaters, however, other food preferences do exist. As juveniles, rat snakes will eat small lizards, baby mice, and an occasional small frog. Adult rat snakes have a diet mainly consisting of mice and rats, but will also include chipmunks, moles, and other small rodents. Adults will also eat bird eggs and young birds that do not put up a strong fight. Rat snakes kill their prey by constriction.

 

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