Eastern Rat Snake

Description:

Rat snakes are the most common large snakes encountered by people here in North Carolina. Black snake with white and black markings on their bellies. These snakes are between 5 & 6 feet long. Glad to have them eat any mice we might have but especially glad to have them help keep the population of venomous like our Copperheads. They are very strong constrictors. They eat our birds and their eggs. They climb trees. Sometimes called "black snakes. " Though children garden & play around them they are rather docile. We don't bother them and they don't bother us.

Habitat:

urban school gardens & wooded areas & storm drains

Notes:

We have several of these rat snakes around, but I'm sad to say that I don't think any of the baby birds we've been watching have survived these hungry snakes. We've watched the snakes climb the trees and even fall out of the trees. Our school lovingly calls out snake "Severus Snake" in honor of the favorite Harry Potter book character.