Rat Snake Characteristics

The rat snake is a nonvenomous, North American snake species. Three subspecies of rat snakes exist: the black, gray and yellow varieties. All three are similar in size and characteristics but vary in color and habitat range. It's an adaptable species that is able to thrive almost anywhere within its range.

  1. Appearance

    • The rat snake, on average, grows to between 3 and 5 feet in length, but does reach lengths of 6 feet. It is a slender but powerful snake species that can range from almost completely black to gray as well as yellow with longitudinal black lines. It has a wedge-shaped head that is only slightly broader than its body. The juveniles of all rat snake subspecies resemble the gray rat snake most closely.

    Habitat and Range

    • Rat snakes live throughout the Southeastern U.S. as well as much of the Midwest. The gray rat snake ranges farthest West with the yellow rat snake living mainly in Florida and the Carolinas. The black rat snake is most common in the Northeast. Most types of natural habitat make a suitable home for the rat snake. They are adept at climbing and can often be found in wooded areas. The yellow rat snake can commonly be found in swampy areas. The black variety likes rocky outcrops in hilly areas as does the gray variety.

    Diet

    • Rat snakes are constrictors, using stealth and ambush to catch prey. The snake waits for prey to wander close and will lunge forward biting onto the animal as it wraps its body around it. The snake then tightens the coils around its prey, squeezing the air from its lungs and suffocating it. The snake is aptly named as its diet consists mainly of small rodents such as mice and squirrels. Other prey include small amphibians, lizards and bird eggs. When threatened, the snake will coil up like a rattlesnake and vibrate its tail while producing a pungent, musky smell.

    Breeding

    • Rat snakes begin the hunt for a mate a few weeks after waking from winter hibernation. The peak breeding season is during late April and May. The female lays her eggs around five weeks after mating, producing between 12 and 20 eggs in a hidden area usually under logs or empty animal burrows. The eggs hatch after 65 to 70 days and the offspring are on their own from birth.