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Project Noah Nature School
Pantherophis spiloides
My father took this set of pictures. They watched the snake climb up to their second story deck, snatch a bird, which my mother says was a Titmouse or a Chickadee. My dad, who is really good at IDing snakes was so shocked there was a snake up so high, he's not told me the ID. You can see a feather on the snake's mouth, and a bulge in his belly. UPDATE: My father just sent me the ID and he agrees with the Gray Rat Snake. Thanks all who helped with the ID. My father says he saw a smaller Gray Rat Snake in the same spot yesterday.
Their property backs up to a creek - floodplain - bog which flows to a bayou, which is brackish water. The creek is freshwater.
This is my father's set of photos, which he has granted permission to post on PN. Their house is in the panhandle of Florida.
My dad reports seeing at least one more snake just like this one, the day after this one. It was climbing down the gutter drain through about 25 yards of enclosed downspout drain to the creek floodplain below. He said he would make sure the snake was exited and then maybe add some screen to keep a snake from getting in there and getting stuck or trapped.
Rat snakes are adept climbers and birds are a favorite prey. Good looking snake.
Spotted on Aug 13, 2012
Submitted on Aug 13, 2012
