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Project Noah Nature School
I have a rarely matched passion for all things “snake” but you will be able to guess that from my spottings. :)
Louisville, CO
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This snake is what we used to call a black ratsnake but the taxonomy has been changed. It falls into the Gray Ratsnake group now based on its genetics and geographic location.
The smell of erythrogaster musk and their willingness to bite is what I love about this species. LOVE!
Queensnakes are absolutely incredible creatures. They only eat freshly molted crayfish which makes them even cooler.
Great Spotting!!!
Amazing photo! Thanks!
Is this a pet snake or was it found checking out the toilet paper roll? :)
Wow! A partially striped individual!
I gave this one a good look too. I think the ID is correct based on where it was found along I-10 near the Nevade border. Southern Pacifics don't make it that far east and Mohave's don't make it that far south. Southern Pacific's also have a brown/tan/yellow terminus to the tail before the rattle. More photos could convince me in a different direction especially since it is near an interstate and people have been known to move snakes out of their range.
Is this a captive snake? It looks like a California Kingsnake and you are in TN. Thanks!
Yeah..the "canebrake" comes from a plant (Rivercane - Arundinaria gigantea) that this species is often associated with in the southeast. This plant grows in dense clumps known as canebrakes and hides lots of rattlesnakes. :)
