Eastern Rat Snake at Beidler Forest

This eastern rat snake was spotted by my Ecology class on Tuesday, March 16th. We were walking along the boardwalk at the Francis Beidler Forest in Harleyville, SC when a classmate noticed this snake wrapped around a nearby tree. This individual appears to be a Yellow Rat Snake, showing a lighter yellowish-green base color and four prominent dark stripes along the back. The eastern rat snake, also known as Pantherophis alleghaniensis, can be found throughout the southeast, but the most common types seen in South Carolina are the Yellow Rat Snake found mainly along the coast, and the Black Rat Snake in the central and Piedmont areas of the state. Although this snake is fairly small, Rat Snakes can grow to be large, with an average length of 42-72 in when mature, and have a characteristic cross-sectional body shape of a loaf of bread. Rat Snakes have a black tongue and several rows of weakly keeled scales along the mid-dorsal line and smooth scales in other areas. Younger Rat Snakes usually have bold patterns such as dark spots or blotches and some types retain these markings as the mature while others may fade with age. Rat Snakes are part of the harmless, egg-laying Colubrid family and will lay their eggs sometime between June and August in a hidden area such as a hollow log or a burrow.  When these snakes feel threatened they often rise up with their head drawn back in a S-shape and mouth wide open, ready to strike and may hiss, lunge forward, and vibrate their tail. This snake did not seem to mind us admiring him and taking pictures though, as he just stayed quietly in place. Rat Snakes are excellent climbers and feed by constriction on mice, small rats, birds, and juveniles may eat some lizards and frogs. With their extensive range, Rat Snakes occupy a wide variety of habitats such as mountains, hills, hardwood forests, floodplains, and swampy areas. They are also often found in suburban places such as abandoned buildings, barns, and garages.  

 

Ranges of the different types Rat Snakes in the southeast.

Yellow Rat Snake seen at Beidler Forest