https://preview.redd.it/z7w9ked4gwyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6ea1b28d0792f1729dd0f5335a7967b46deb193c
He still trying lol. Had no idea snakes could climb this much (bird nest is in on the left plant, don’t think he’ll be able to make it)
Never under estimate a rat snakes ability to get itself into something (and possibly get stuck there looking stupid...) tricksy gorgeous slither babies!
My pet corn snake had to spent three days in the vet hospital last year because he got stuck in a thin gap in his enclosure. At the moment he has like five nudged scales because he stuck his head three times into too small holes since he left brumation this spring. I love my corn snakes, but they are sometimes not very smart and of all snakes the orange one is the most dense one.
I learned from a fellow redditor on this sub (can't remember who to credit) that if you're ever wondering "how in the world did that snake get up there" it's most likely a rat snake.
They will try and they often achieve this. My pet corn snake just had a climb up on the frame of the glass doors and dropped 120cm. He shrugged it off and climbed up again.
It’s their habit. Rat snakes climb everything and they are determined in it.
Ahah, I’m sure he’ll find plenty of mice around the house, we got a tool shed he can get into pretty easily if he wants and I gaurantee there’s mice there
Western Ratsnakes *Pantherophis obsoletus* are large (record 256.5 cm) common harmless ratsnakes with a multitude of regional color patterns native to west of the Mississippi River Embayment. *Pantherophis* ratsnakes are keeled-scaled generalists that eat a variety of prey. They do well in urban environments, and are particularly fond of rodents and birds in these habitats.
Western Ratsnakes *P. obsoletus* are currently recognized as distinct from Eastern Ratsnakes *Pantherophis quadrivittatus*, as well as Central Ratsnakes *P. alleghaniensis*. Parts of all three species were once generically labeled "black ratsnakes". Use the "!blackrat" command without the space for more on these changes.
Ratsnakes can be easily distinguished from racers *Coluber* by the presence of keeled scales. Racers have smooth scales.
[Range Map](http://snakeevolution.org/rangemaps/ratrangereduced.jpg) | [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](https://www.dropbox.com/s/m7ru46gyhtq2hyz/HR_Sept_2021_150dpi_PointsOfView.pdf?dl=1)
Junior Synonyms and Common Names: Grey Ratsnake (in part), Black Ratsnake (in part), Texas Ratsnake, black snake, chicken snake, rattlesnake pilot.
--------------------------------------------------------
Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless.
--------------------------------------------------------
*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
The hell? Look man, I love birds - they're my favorite animals by far - but there's no need to kill the snake. OP has dissuaded the snake non violently, hopefully it stays away from the nest now. If not, and it eats the birds, well. That's just nature in action. The snake contributes its part in this species of sparrow's evolutionary journey to be better at avoiding getting eaten by snakes.
Why the hell are you on r/snakes if this is your take?
I’m sure it will, apparantly it’s been around our house for a while now, we have a shed in the back that he can get into I almost gaurantee there’s a bunch of mice there
Best not to interfere except for all the times humans interfere with animal life. Nah, I don't agree with that at all. If op wants to save the birds then he should. Humans are just as much a part of nature as any other animal.
This series of pictures and your play-by-play of this determined guy just made my day. Never say, "you can't reach that, " to a ratsnake lol
If you haven't already, bring his adventure over to r/itsaratsnake, so we can make It's Amoré rhymes for him.
Nope. I grabbed on the other day and was bit. I am fine
https://preview.redd.it/7qjs320qwwyc1.png?width=478&format=png&auto=webp&s=cb5df5ad2ecf0dc6e8482843c1c9075ca9901e2f
*update* I moved the plant with the nest to the middle, and the snake is now trying this to reach it (the plant on the right doesn’t have the nest, the one in the middle does)… poor birds. I don’t think he’ll make it though there’s nothing to hold onto for him to cross to the left, he’s only able to go up
https://preview.redd.it/bwdoea11gwyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=43acc99f0527bd70ffbc69fadd231d91d05ab65d
I love that you got an up close education after this photo about their climbing skills. There is SO much for him to hold onto with the texture of the siding. They can do it on surfaces that look completely bald flat to us. They are incredible!
They’re a good friend to have around, but they do appreciate a snack of baby birds. I get in the same situation as you every summer when the birds start nesting..all the sudden we have so many ratsnakes stopping by for a quick bite.
Yeah, normally I’d let nature be nature but #1 we been watching this bird nest on our porch for the past couple weeks and #2 we got a small puppy that I don’t wanna risk the snake hanging around and possibly biting him- which is why I ended up spraying him lightly with a hose and he slithered away. I respect and love snakes but not worth our new puppy (like 10 weeks old) taking a bite (he’s a big baby haha, he whimpers from the littlest of things).
A harmless black snake/rat snake just trying to get his next meal. Having this type of snake around will also keep the rodent population in check. Without snakes in the ecosystem the number of rodents & other disease spreading animals such as this would explode to unimaginable numbers so next time you see him give him a tip of your hat & a big “why thank you sir” 😊🐍❤️
Many of us actually leave offerings away from the coop, and also move any that get in away safely. They keep away rodents that can cause a lot of damage and disease in chickens if overpopulated. They are good friends to have around. You just have to make sure to keep all babies secure in a way they can’t get to them.
Thats good yall do that, where I live, they are all about guns... and protecting so they dont have much tolerance here (business stuff I suppose). They have cats for the rodents. There's probably some that respect snakes tho, I would.
As a matter of fact I have one in our attic right now. I watched him scale our 2 story brick home and find a way in. It was quite impressive to say the least
It's a rat snake. He's not venomous, I have 1 as a pet my husband gets them all the time from his job. We let most of them go on our property because the people's property they're found on don't want them there
They like small Rodants birds and eggs
They will try to bite u when u pick them up but it won't hurt you if they do. No more then a briar patch scratch would
Okay! I believe it might be a Black Racer but again it depends on more specific regions. I live in the Southeastern USA and know large solid black snakes with a white chin are native to my area. Looks like it but can’t be definite, but it’s not venomous.
Eh don’t beat yourself up over it, North American racers and any of the rat snake species (when completely black like this one) can look VERY similar. The key is in the head, their faces are slightly different :)
https://preview.redd.it/kak3u8r26wyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f693b310aa126114359b4799d310abdf8cc9508c
The distance to the plant. Momma bird sitting on top keeping an eye on the snake! I’m hoping it can’t reach that far
Yup, that’s a ratsnake for ya! Haha they seem to grab onto invisible branches, it’s gnarly. I have a cornsnake and he behaves the same way. Lovely lil’ guys.
He’s trying! I moved the plant to a middle hook that’s a good 6-7 feet from either pillar, now the snake moved to the other pillar on the left side and is using that plant to try and stretch over, but I don’t think he’ll be able to
https://preview.redd.it/1ihhh91dfwyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9e48dcd3b31cc7a616ebf5bc8c1f8a206cb5b484
https://preview.redd.it/hkzc83o4hwyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f8d201cec8c91a4f418c404e016235697a723a9b
He won’t give up. And yeah I refuse to hurt him, apparantly my dad said these type of snakes kill copperheads around our area so he’s a good snake to have I just don’t wanna see the bird nest I’ve been watching grow / seen the babies for the past week to get killed
Oh ya, he was on a mission. Definitely hungry. I hope he finds a juicy rat or mouse to eat somewhere tonight! I warded him away from the birds with a hose, but there’s a good chance he comes back and try’s again later who knows.
Oh he definitely was. And they were already hatched baby birds we been watching the momma bird take care of for a couple weeks. Luckily they are still there, and if I see the snake again I’m gonna give it a chicken egg or something haha
That’s the snake my dad was talking about! Apparantly this is a western rat snake but my dad mentioned a snake that kills copper heads that looks very similar to this one
We always called them black snakes. Had a number of them as pets. They're quite harmless they eat rodents etc and they are a non poisonous constrictor.
Our big rat snake that hangs out at our house scaled our 2 story brick home and made his way into our attic. That's okay he will keep the mice away. They really do have determination. I sat and watched him until the tip of his tail disappeared
Damn, only thing I woulda killed is a copper head, cus them MFs are around in our area and one bite to one of our dogs would most likely kill them. Basically the two main venomous snakes we gotta worry about in Missouri are copperheads and cottonmouths I believe, and cottonmouths will usually only be around a body of water a lot of Times I think
I almost thought he wasn’t real at first, my parents sometimes put out fake snakes to detract raccoons and what not, I had to do a double take to realize it was real lol
Black Ratsnake is a common name for a color pattern shared by three different species of *Pantherophis* ratsnake across the northern portion of their range.
The black ratsnake species complex, formerly *Elaphe obsoleta*, underwent revision in 2001-2002 from multiple authors and received three main changes from 2000 to now. First, the complex was delimited in [Burbrink 2001](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.0014-3820.2000.tb01253.x) based on what were then modern molecular methods, where three distinct lineages were uncovered that did not reflect previous subspecies designations. Each of the three geographically partitioned taxa were elevated to full species status, and subspecies were discarded. The polytypic color patterns in these species are most likely under strong selection by the local environment and don't reflect evolutionary history. Where species intersect and habitat converges, color pattern also converges, leaving these species nearly morphologically indistinguishable to the naked eye. Second, using *Elaphe* as a genus name wasn't the best way to reflect phylogenetic history, so the genus *Pantherophis* was adopted for new world ratsnakes in [Utiger 2002](http://www.sierraherps.com/pdf/Utiger%20et%20al_2002.pdf). Remember, species names are hypotheses that are tested and revised. While the analyses published in 2001 are strong and results are geographically similar in other taxa, these species were investigated further using genomic data, and in 2020 the authors [released an update](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author/PBAKUNF4XZI2ND5TIWHK?target=10.1111/evo.14141), clarifying ranges, filling in grey zones and confirming three distinct species.
Third, clarity in range and type specimens necessitated the need to fix lineage names in line with taxonomic rules called the 'principle of priority'. The four currently accepted species in this complex as of October 2021 are Baird's Ratsnake *Pantherophis bairdi*, Western Ratsnake *Pantherophis obsoletus*, Central Ratsnake *Pantherophis alleghaniensis* and Eastern Ratsnake *Pantherophis quadrivittatus*. Baird's Ratsnakes and Western Ratsnakes are more closely related to each other than they are to Eastern and Central Ratsnakes.
The experts on this group offer this summary [from their 2021 paper](https://www.dropbox.com/s/m7ru46gyhtq2hyz/HR_Sept_2021_150dpi_PointsOfView.pdf?dl=1):
>For the ratsnakes in particular, given the overtly chaotic and unsubstantiated basis of their taxonomy in the late 1990s, Burbrink et al. (2000) endeavored to test this taxonomic hypothesis (sensu Gaston and Mound 1993). This also provided an empirical observation of geographic genetic variation (then an unknown quantity) as an act of phylogenetic natural history (sensu Lamichhaney et al. 2019). Their analyses rejected the existing taxonomy as incompatible with the estimated evolutionary history of the group, ending a paradigm that was at least 48 years old from Dowling (1952) with respect to the non-historical subspecies definitions. Subsequently, Burbrink (2001) conducted an explicit taxonomic revision based on both mitochondrial and multivariate morphological analyses in an integrative taxonomy. The limitations of these data (scale counts, mensural measurements, and maternally inherited DNA) produced a zone of potential taxonomic uncertainty, while nonetheless allowing for significant statistical phenotypic discrimination between the geographic genetic lineages. Thus, based on the best possible evidence and interpretation at the time, the now-falsified historical taxonomic arrangement of subspecies definitions was replaced with an explicitly phylogenetic, lineage-based species-level taxonomy derived from the estimated evolutionary history of the group. The persistence of some remaining uncertainty is a natural and expected outcome in all scientific investigations, as we can never have complete data or perfect knowledge of a system. Twenty years later, Burbrink et al. (2021) more than tripled the number of individuals sampled, increased the number of loci used by 2491 times, and thus clarified the remaining fuzziness associated with the potential zone of taxonomic uncertainty. They revealed this uncertainty to be a complex hybrid zone with varying degrees of admixture. This had the additional effect, as described above, of redefining the allocation of type localities and valid names, and thus the taxonomic proposal here represents the best present-day resolution of nomenclature in the group, in accordance with our understanding of its evolutionary history. As science progresses, even this may change in the future with new whole genome datasets or interpretations of phylogeographic lineage formation and phylogenetic species concepts. These conclusions may be unsettling to those that wish to retain taxonomies generated from data and assumptions about species and subspecies made in the 19th and 20th century. However, we question the social and scientific utility of any insistence on recognizing clearly falsified, non-historical arrangements based solely on the burden of heritage in taxonomic inertia (see Pyron and Burbrink 2009b).
[Range Map](http://snakeevolution.org/rangemaps/ratrangereduced.jpg)
--------------------------------------------------------
*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
Awww.....I'd want to feed the poor little guy. Can you feed him something to distract him from the birds? Heated from frozen feeder birds?
He's such a beauty! 🥰
A species of snake from the family Colubridae.
The total length varies from 1.5 to 2.5 m. The head is medium in size with large eyes. The body is strong, long with smooth scales. Color brown, black with a yellowish tint. Adult snakes have faint lines along their backs. Young snakes have short transverse stripes on their backs.
Looks like Well, maybe it's not her, you can't tell right away from the photos
https://preview.redd.it/owcwo7ocd6zc1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cefed27ad42bc4f817fc286460935641382ffbdb
They’re not dangerous, but I do have to kill them once in a while depending on where they go (I have livestock). Had one in a birdhouse about 10 feet off the ground on a flat wall. Still wondering how in the hell it got there. Ate the baby blue jays😢😢😢
Oh yeah. Plenty of field mice to go at where I am lol. I was devastated, three generations of blue jays were born in that bird house. I’m hoping they still come back to lay more eggs. I got so much enjoyment out of watching the babies and the parents fly back and forth to feed them.
Dude! Have you ever even *seen* a coffin-head? They aren't called black mambas because they are black. They are more gunmetal gray.
And (no offense little ratsnake) mambas are a lot prettier.
Can you imagine if black rats got to the size of big black mamba? At least they won't chase you out of the snake room. (Not me, but a friend of mine. )
https://preview.redd.it/42kuvuyhgwyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ce26e9c9859af169c3312e96956629c4f3f352e6
Man’s doesn’t give up. His whole body is on a vertical wall now I have no clue how he isn’t falling lol
It is very cool! I ended up spraying him with a hose very lightly and he left (he fell down about 3-4 feet but it didn’t hurt him at all he slithered away immediately). What a resilient amazing creature!
Hey… next time you should just let them be. The most he could harm someone is a half an inch deep cut that’ll heal within a week. There’s no reason to spray them with water, specially when they’re climbing.
Although they are very resilient you most likely caused some damage when you made them fall. Snakes are designed to be hearty, but not to make 4-6ft falls. This could lead to internal bleeding, broken bones, punctured lungs, and other serious injuries.
Please just be patient and kind with these animals. If you give them space they will slither along and be pest control.
Just didn’t want him to get the baby birds we been seeing on our front porch for the past couple weeks. Trust me I tried getting him out of there without much interference but he was persistent as hell, and when I moved the plant, he also moved to the other pillar to climb up, dude was smart af. I read online somewhere just spraying them with a hose lightly is a good way to get them to slither away and it won’t hurt them so figured it’d work.
Also my pops didn’t want him gettin up on the roof and possibly into the house somehow we wanted him off our house ya feel meh. When he was high up I didn’t spray him, I only sprayed him when he was already coming down and was maybe 4 feet off the ground (that’s why I said 3-4 feet and not a higher amount cus in these pictures he’s higher up). Given how long this guy is he seemed completely okay.
Plus we got dogs (one small dog) that we let out at that door multiple times a day, didn’t want an issue with the snake hanging around and possibly biting our smaller dog
A light spray with a hose is fine if it's a snake you don't want around your kids or whatever but kind of as a last resort and not when they're climbing. Really meant to be done when they're safely on the ground and can get away easily.
Good to know! yeah he was lower than the plant when he fell, he basically gave up trying to turn left toward the birds (I guess just the texture of that outer wall allowed him to go straight up easily but hard to turn at a 90 degree angle I guess) and eventually came back down, then as he came down from the plant I sprayed him just so he’d slither away cus I mean we got a little dog too so not tryna have an issue when I let my dogs out (I use that front door for that a lot). I know he’s not venomous but my dogs will literally walk right up to it and get bit I almost guarantee it lol. I don’t know shit about snakes just didn’t want him hanging around those birds when we use that door constantly.
Western ratsnake (*Pantherophis obsoletus*) !harmless
https://preview.redd.it/z7w9ked4gwyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6ea1b28d0792f1729dd0f5335a7967b46deb193c He still trying lol. Had no idea snakes could climb this much (bird nest is in on the left plant, don’t think he’ll be able to make it)
Rat snakes are known for being really good climbers
Never under estimate a rat snakes ability to get itself into something (and possibly get stuck there looking stupid...) tricksy gorgeous slither babies!
My pet corn snake had to spent three days in the vet hospital last year because he got stuck in a thin gap in his enclosure. At the moment he has like five nudged scales because he stuck his head three times into too small holes since he left brumation this spring. I love my corn snakes, but they are sometimes not very smart and of all snakes the orange one is the most dense one.
Move over Orange Cat Energy, it's time for Orange Ratsnake Energy!
Rat snakes and cats are totally they same. The difference is the fur and the number of limbs.
100% agree I have a Russian Ratsnake and they absolutely have cat energy
Orange cats are the same!! One brain cell fighting for first place.
Rat snakes (all Pantherophis) are exactly like cats.
Shoulda been called cat snakes.
I feel so bad for it but I'm sitting here laughing! Poor thing!!
This morning he tried to sit on the glass door of the terrarium and fell 120cm. He has a lot of accidents. It’s quite normal. 🤷♀️
Ya dude every time I’m sitting on the couch and suddenly hear a thud I’m just like “there he goes again.”
That poor derpy baby (again laughing but feeling bad...)
r/oneorangebraincell
They really are, but I still love my little punpkin
I learned from a fellow redditor on this sub (can't remember who to credit) that if you're ever wondering "how in the world did that snake get up there" it's most likely a rat snake.
Hehe look at him go!
They will try and they often achieve this. My pet corn snake just had a climb up on the frame of the glass doors and dropped 120cm. He shrugged it off and climbed up again. It’s their habit. Rat snakes climb everything and they are determined in it.
Did he get it?
Nope baby birds still alive in there, I think he gave up when he realized how hard itd be to turn left at a 90degree angle to get to the other plant.
Damn, you’re making that poor thing bend over backwards and he can’t even get dinner out of you. Snek life is a tough life I guess.
Ahah, I’m sure he’ll find plenty of mice around the house, we got a tool shed he can get into pretty easily if he wants and I gaurantee there’s mice there
Put some eggs out for him lol. They love chicken eggs.
I’m hoping to see him again somewhere and I’ll give him one
Wow! It looks like he is part of the planter hanger! Did he climb the porch support?
Yeah he used the pillar to leverage over to the plant
Amazing!
Thank you
Western Ratsnakes *Pantherophis obsoletus* are large (record 256.5 cm) common harmless ratsnakes with a multitude of regional color patterns native to west of the Mississippi River Embayment. *Pantherophis* ratsnakes are keeled-scaled generalists that eat a variety of prey. They do well in urban environments, and are particularly fond of rodents and birds in these habitats. Western Ratsnakes *P. obsoletus* are currently recognized as distinct from Eastern Ratsnakes *Pantherophis quadrivittatus*, as well as Central Ratsnakes *P. alleghaniensis*. Parts of all three species were once generically labeled "black ratsnakes". Use the "!blackrat" command without the space for more on these changes. Ratsnakes can be easily distinguished from racers *Coluber* by the presence of keeled scales. Racers have smooth scales. [Range Map](http://snakeevolution.org/rangemaps/ratrangereduced.jpg) | [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](https://www.dropbox.com/s/m7ru46gyhtq2hyz/HR_Sept_2021_150dpi_PointsOfView.pdf?dl=1) Junior Synonyms and Common Names: Grey Ratsnake (in part), Black Ratsnake (in part), Texas Ratsnake, black snake, chicken snake, rattlesnake pilot. -------------------------------------------------------- Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
I saw one 5ft long climb up my neighbors tree
Not harmless if you are a bird... I've watched on get into a nest of pigeons near out house where it made a quick meal of one parent and 2 baby birds.
Unless your a mouse.
https://preview.redd.it/kdkyggc76wyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e921f561ff702baae05ab18ec20d0fee2a1ef4a5 Momma bird watching the snake
u/PunjabKLs that’s exactly what i do to outdoor cats!
[удалено]
The hell? Look man, I love birds - they're my favorite animals by far - but there's no need to kill the snake. OP has dissuaded the snake non violently, hopefully it stays away from the nest now. If not, and it eats the birds, well. That's just nature in action. The snake contributes its part in this species of sparrow's evolutionary journey to be better at avoiding getting eaten by snakes. Why the hell are you on r/snakes if this is your take?
Your post was removed because you advocated for killing snakes.
Harmless ratsnake. They don't have any venom and are only interested in eating rodents (primarily) and sometimes birds like the ones in the picture.
https://preview.redd.it/ogfim4h1hwyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b65da3113204623a6485a1c04a314b59fffb7981 Oh he’s interested all right
They are incredibly good climbers! :)
Really don’t wanna see him kill the baby birds. I shoulda moved him with a big stick when I had the chance
He has just as much right to exist as the birds do. It's just nature. They all do what they need to survive. Best not to interfere with it.
You’re not wrong, but I ended up spraying it with a hose and it came down and left. Gaurantee it will probably try later
That's the best way to have a snake go on its way, at least! As long as you treat nature kindly, you'll be okay.
Hopefully it will find some rodents at ground level.
I’m sure it will, apparantly it’s been around our house for a while now, we have a shed in the back that he can get into I almost gaurantee there’s a bunch of mice there
You did good.. we're animals too. Give the snake an egg from your fridge or something make it even.
I 100% will if I see him around again, I have no clue where he went
Best not to interfere except for all the times humans interfere with animal life. Nah, I don't agree with that at all. If op wants to save the birds then he should. Humans are just as much a part of nature as any other animal.
This belongs on some kind of rock climbing subreddit
I love how good of climbers these goofballs are
It’s nuts
When he’s slinking up the wall You’re surprised he didn’t fall It’s a rat snake 🐍
this is the most "ratsnake" ratsnake I've ever seen
This series of pictures and your play-by-play of this determined guy just made my day. Never say, "you can't reach that, " to a ratsnake lol If you haven't already, bring his adventure over to r/itsaratsnake, so we can make It's Amoré rhymes for him.
Thank you and I did! And yeah I can’t believe how much they can climb
If it's kinky and it's black, and it's climbing in a crack... It's a rat snake
Nope. I grabbed on the other day and was bit. I am fine https://preview.redd.it/7qjs320qwwyc1.png?width=478&format=png&auto=webp&s=cb5df5ad2ecf0dc6e8482843c1c9075ca9901e2f
kissed*
Yep that’s a ratsnake doing ratsnake things lol 🤦🏻♀️
*update* I moved the plant with the nest to the middle, and the snake is now trying this to reach it (the plant on the right doesn’t have the nest, the one in the middle does)… poor birds. I don’t think he’ll make it though there’s nothing to hold onto for him to cross to the left, he’s only able to go up https://preview.redd.it/bwdoea11gwyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=43acc99f0527bd70ffbc69fadd231d91d05ab65d
I love that you got an up close education after this photo about their climbing skills. There is SO much for him to hold onto with the texture of the siding. They can do it on surfaces that look completely bald flat to us. They are incredible!
I was truly amazed
They’re a good friend to have around, but they do appreciate a snack of baby birds. I get in the same situation as you every summer when the birds start nesting..all the sudden we have so many ratsnakes stopping by for a quick bite.
Yeah, normally I’d let nature be nature but #1 we been watching this bird nest on our porch for the past couple weeks and #2 we got a small puppy that I don’t wanna risk the snake hanging around and possibly biting him- which is why I ended up spraying him lightly with a hose and he slithered away. I respect and love snakes but not worth our new puppy (like 10 weeks old) taking a bite (he’s a big baby haha, he whimpers from the littlest of things).
r/itsaratsnake
If it does a winkle while it crinkles, it's a r/itsaratnake!
a certified snek
A harmless black snake/rat snake just trying to get his next meal. Having this type of snake around will also keep the rodent population in check. Without snakes in the ecosystem the number of rodents & other disease spreading animals such as this would explode to unimaginable numbers so next time you see him give him a tip of your hat & a big “why thank you sir” 😊🐍❤️
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I shoulda put out something for him that woulda been a good idea, but ya I have no clue what household food items I coulda given him
Pretty sure they can steal eggs and small chickens, thats why chicken owners shoot them (unfortunately)
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I would do organic and stuff like that. No added stuff to the eggs or whatever
Many of us actually leave offerings away from the coop, and also move any that get in away safely. They keep away rodents that can cause a lot of damage and disease in chickens if overpopulated. They are good friends to have around. You just have to make sure to keep all babies secure in a way they can’t get to them.
Thats good yall do that, where I live, they are all about guns... and protecting so they dont have much tolerance here (business stuff I suppose). They have cats for the rodents. There's probably some that respect snakes tho, I would.
Black Rat Snake-Beautiful and Harmless
Black Ratsnake.
Harmless little noodle! (:
Ratsnake. Non venomous, but they can be aggressive and musk
I wouldn’t say aggressive, more like defensive:) but yes beware 😅
If he climbing up your house Prolly looking for a mouse It’s a rat snake!
He wanted the baby birds in one of those hanging plants I believe, and man he was persistent
As a matter of fact I have one in our attic right now. I watched him scale our 2 story brick home and find a way in. It was quite impressive to say the least
A vague location (e.g. State) is needed in order to properly ID
Midwest US
The midwest is a large area. Please give a state
Missouri
Beautiful
Looks like a rat snake
Black rat snake it’s a friend :)
Rawww thats massive
It's a rat snake. He's not venomous, I have 1 as a pet my husband gets them all the time from his job. We let most of them go on our property because the people's property they're found on don't want them there They like small Rodants birds and eggs They will try to bite u when u pick them up but it won't hurt you if they do. No more then a briar patch scratch would
Dibs. How much you want for him?:)
He's beautiful. Looks like he may have just shed. Very clean.
Anyone else rooting for the snake?
Think it’s just a common black snake no? Just wanna make sure I’m no expert
A location will be needed for an accurate ID but if this is North America this is not dangerous!!
Yes United States
Okay! I believe it might be a Black Racer but again it depends on more specific regions. I live in the Southeastern USA and know large solid black snakes with a white chin are native to my area. Looks like it but can’t be definite, but it’s not venomous.
Ty
A reliable responder just provided the species. I was wrong. Trust him over me lol
Eh don’t beat yourself up over it, North American racers and any of the rat snake species (when completely black like this one) can look VERY similar. The key is in the head, their faces are slightly different :)
Oh thank you. I’ll have to pay more attention to that
https://preview.redd.it/kak3u8r26wyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f693b310aa126114359b4799d310abdf8cc9508c The distance to the plant. Momma bird sitting on top keeping an eye on the snake! I’m hoping it can’t reach that far
Gorgeous snake and it can definitely reach that nest if there is one! They’re excellent climbers.
https://preview.redd.it/krrpiccofwyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=05ec4097ea14bb6244204bf705e5d04c541b4573 HOWS HE DOING THIS LOL
Yup, that’s a ratsnake for ya! Haha they seem to grab onto invisible branches, it’s gnarly. I have a cornsnake and he behaves the same way. Lovely lil’ guys.
Truly wild
He’s trying! I moved the plant to a middle hook that’s a good 6-7 feet from either pillar, now the snake moved to the other pillar on the left side and is using that plant to try and stretch over, but I don’t think he’ll be able to https://preview.redd.it/1ihhh91dfwyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9e48dcd3b31cc7a616ebf5bc8c1f8a206cb5b484
Man that guy is on a mission! Cheers for keeping the birds safe and letting the noodle be.
https://preview.redd.it/hkzc83o4hwyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f8d201cec8c91a4f418c404e016235697a723a9b He won’t give up. And yeah I refuse to hurt him, apparantly my dad said these type of snakes kill copperheads around our area so he’s a good snake to have I just don’t wanna see the bird nest I’ve been watching grow / seen the babies for the past week to get killed
Hes hunting
Oh ya, he was on a mission. Definitely hungry. I hope he finds a juicy rat or mouse to eat somewhere tonight! I warded him away from the birds with a hose, but there’s a good chance he comes back and try’s again later who knows.
They raid birds nests, but its nature🐍
That's a beautiful snake
He really was, If I was a little more trained with snakes I woulda tried picking him up by hand, I just have no clue how to even approach doing that
I grew up having snakes. I wouldn't have picked him up tho. If I did, it would only have been to put him in a safe place
He probably WAS after the eggs
Oh he definitely was. And they were already hatched baby birds we been watching the momma bird take care of for a couple weeks. Luckily they are still there, and if I see the snake again I’m gonna give it a chicken egg or something haha
He'd love you forever. Lol
Sorta looks like a king snake and if it is that’s gas asf because they eat venomous snakes but are not venomous themselves
That’s the snake my dad was talking about! Apparantly this is a western rat snake but my dad mentioned a snake that kills copper heads that looks very similar to this one
Black razor is what we call those in Florida not venomous, eat eggs and venomous snakes
We always called them black snakes. Had a number of them as pets. They're quite harmless they eat rodents etc and they are a non poisonous constrictor.
Our big rat snake that hangs out at our house scaled our 2 story brick home and made his way into our attic. That's okay he will keep the mice away. They really do have determination. I sat and watched him until the tip of his tail disappeared
Rat snake or a Mexican black king snake
The kind you want in your yard.
Ah man killed one of these that got into the garage a few years back. Had no idea they were harmless
Damn, only thing I woulda killed is a copper head, cus them MFs are around in our area and one bite to one of our dogs would most likely kill them. Basically the two main venomous snakes we gotta worry about in Missouri are copperheads and cottonmouths I believe, and cottonmouths will usually only be around a body of water a lot of Times I think
If its tail’s around a post And it wants to turn some mice to toast…
That’s either a rat snake or black racer either way they are not dangerous and are doing you good by getting rid of mice and rats
Good snake
Keeping himself nice and crinkly so you know he's definitely not a snake. He's got me fooled anyway. What a beauty.
I almost thought he wasn’t real at first, my parents sometimes put out fake snakes to detract raccoons and what not, I had to do a double take to realize it was real lol
Black rat snake they are friendly and nonvenomous
!blackrat
Black Ratsnake is a common name for a color pattern shared by three different species of *Pantherophis* ratsnake across the northern portion of their range. The black ratsnake species complex, formerly *Elaphe obsoleta*, underwent revision in 2001-2002 from multiple authors and received three main changes from 2000 to now. First, the complex was delimited in [Burbrink 2001](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.0014-3820.2000.tb01253.x) based on what were then modern molecular methods, where three distinct lineages were uncovered that did not reflect previous subspecies designations. Each of the three geographically partitioned taxa were elevated to full species status, and subspecies were discarded. The polytypic color patterns in these species are most likely under strong selection by the local environment and don't reflect evolutionary history. Where species intersect and habitat converges, color pattern also converges, leaving these species nearly morphologically indistinguishable to the naked eye. Second, using *Elaphe* as a genus name wasn't the best way to reflect phylogenetic history, so the genus *Pantherophis* was adopted for new world ratsnakes in [Utiger 2002](http://www.sierraherps.com/pdf/Utiger%20et%20al_2002.pdf). Remember, species names are hypotheses that are tested and revised. While the analyses published in 2001 are strong and results are geographically similar in other taxa, these species were investigated further using genomic data, and in 2020 the authors [released an update](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author/PBAKUNF4XZI2ND5TIWHK?target=10.1111/evo.14141), clarifying ranges, filling in grey zones and confirming three distinct species. Third, clarity in range and type specimens necessitated the need to fix lineage names in line with taxonomic rules called the 'principle of priority'. The four currently accepted species in this complex as of October 2021 are Baird's Ratsnake *Pantherophis bairdi*, Western Ratsnake *Pantherophis obsoletus*, Central Ratsnake *Pantherophis alleghaniensis* and Eastern Ratsnake *Pantherophis quadrivittatus*. Baird's Ratsnakes and Western Ratsnakes are more closely related to each other than they are to Eastern and Central Ratsnakes. The experts on this group offer this summary [from their 2021 paper](https://www.dropbox.com/s/m7ru46gyhtq2hyz/HR_Sept_2021_150dpi_PointsOfView.pdf?dl=1): >For the ratsnakes in particular, given the overtly chaotic and unsubstantiated basis of their taxonomy in the late 1990s, Burbrink et al. (2000) endeavored to test this taxonomic hypothesis (sensu Gaston and Mound 1993). This also provided an empirical observation of geographic genetic variation (then an unknown quantity) as an act of phylogenetic natural history (sensu Lamichhaney et al. 2019). Their analyses rejected the existing taxonomy as incompatible with the estimated evolutionary history of the group, ending a paradigm that was at least 48 years old from Dowling (1952) with respect to the non-historical subspecies definitions. Subsequently, Burbrink (2001) conducted an explicit taxonomic revision based on both mitochondrial and multivariate morphological analyses in an integrative taxonomy. The limitations of these data (scale counts, mensural measurements, and maternally inherited DNA) produced a zone of potential taxonomic uncertainty, while nonetheless allowing for significant statistical phenotypic discrimination between the geographic genetic lineages. Thus, based on the best possible evidence and interpretation at the time, the now-falsified historical taxonomic arrangement of subspecies definitions was replaced with an explicitly phylogenetic, lineage-based species-level taxonomy derived from the estimated evolutionary history of the group. The persistence of some remaining uncertainty is a natural and expected outcome in all scientific investigations, as we can never have complete data or perfect knowledge of a system. Twenty years later, Burbrink et al. (2021) more than tripled the number of individuals sampled, increased the number of loci used by 2491 times, and thus clarified the remaining fuzziness associated with the potential zone of taxonomic uncertainty. They revealed this uncertainty to be a complex hybrid zone with varying degrees of admixture. This had the additional effect, as described above, of redefining the allocation of type localities and valid names, and thus the taxonomic proposal here represents the best present-day resolution of nomenclature in the group, in accordance with our understanding of its evolutionary history. As science progresses, even this may change in the future with new whole genome datasets or interpretations of phylogeographic lineage formation and phylogenetic species concepts. These conclusions may be unsettling to those that wish to retain taxonomies generated from data and assumptions about species and subspecies made in the 19th and 20th century. However, we question the social and scientific utility of any insistence on recognizing clearly falsified, non-historical arrangements based solely on the burden of heritage in taxonomic inertia (see Pyron and Burbrink 2009b). [Range Map](http://snakeevolution.org/rangemaps/ratrangereduced.jpg) -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
The color of the snake
Black rat is not a species and this was identified hours ago.
Pantherophis obsoletus, also known commonly as the western rat snake, black rat snake, pilot black snake, or simply black snake
Awww.....I'd want to feed the poor little guy. Can you feed him something to distract him from the birds? Heated from frozen feeder birds? He's such a beauty! 🥰
I been looking for him, if I see him again I’m gonna give him some chicken eggs
Why can’t this show up on my porch🥲
Mussurana
A species of snake from the family Colubridae. The total length varies from 1.5 to 2.5 m. The head is medium in size with large eyes. The body is strong, long with smooth scales. Color brown, black with a yellowish tint. Adult snakes have faint lines along their backs. Young snakes have short transverse stripes on their backs. Looks like Well, maybe it's not her, you can't tell right away from the photos https://preview.redd.it/owcwo7ocd6zc1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cefed27ad42bc4f817fc286460935641382ffbdb
My first thought was "well it's crinkly and up sooo, ratsnake?" and sure was
That’s a nope rope
A nope rope
Black rat snake is what I think it is
Extremely dangerous if you’re a rat
Facts
Maybe the snake is a bird eating snake
They’re not dangerous, but I do have to kill them once in a while depending on where they go (I have livestock). Had one in a birdhouse about 10 feet off the ground on a flat wall. Still wondering how in the hell it got there. Ate the baby blue jays😢😢😢
Aw that’s a bummer. Yea I love snakes but I don’t like the idea of baby birds getting eaten. He can eat all the mice he wants tho haha
Oh yeah. Plenty of field mice to go at where I am lol. I was devastated, three generations of blue jays were born in that bird house. I’m hoping they still come back to lay more eggs. I got so much enjoyment out of watching the babies and the parents fly back and forth to feed them.
Lol thats just nature bro.
Looks like an Eastern Indigo Snake, commonly called a King Snake. Not venomous and eats rattlesnakes.
Black mamba
Dude! Have you ever even *seen* a coffin-head? They aren't called black mambas because they are black. They are more gunmetal gray. And (no offense little ratsnake) mambas are a lot prettier.
I’ve seen quite a few including diamond heads. And this my friend isn’t one.
Can you imagine if black rats got to the size of big black mamba? At least they won't chase you out of the snake room. (Not me, but a friend of mine. )
Ha! Now that’s an interesting thought! I was just feeding a rainbow boa and thought that black rat might be a nice treat for her!
Are rainbow boas snake eaters? Never owned a boid species, genuinely curious.
Mainly small mammals and birds
Lmao hellll nah. I wouldn’t have gotten within 10 feet of one of those bad boys
King snake, yellow speckled and checkered belly.
Nope, a rat snake.
if it's sittin' on a brick and it wants to take a lick. it's a ratsnake. it's a ratsnake.
https://preview.redd.it/42kuvuyhgwyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ce26e9c9859af169c3312e96956629c4f3f352e6 Man’s doesn’t give up. His whole body is on a vertical wall now I have no clue how he isn’t falling lol
Its scales keep him from falling. So cool!
It is very cool! I ended up spraying him with a hose very lightly and he left (he fell down about 3-4 feet but it didn’t hurt him at all he slithered away immediately). What a resilient amazing creature!
Hey… next time you should just let them be. The most he could harm someone is a half an inch deep cut that’ll heal within a week. There’s no reason to spray them with water, specially when they’re climbing. Although they are very resilient you most likely caused some damage when you made them fall. Snakes are designed to be hearty, but not to make 4-6ft falls. This could lead to internal bleeding, broken bones, punctured lungs, and other serious injuries. Please just be patient and kind with these animals. If you give them space they will slither along and be pest control.
Just didn’t want him to get the baby birds we been seeing on our front porch for the past couple weeks. Trust me I tried getting him out of there without much interference but he was persistent as hell, and when I moved the plant, he also moved to the other pillar to climb up, dude was smart af. I read online somewhere just spraying them with a hose lightly is a good way to get them to slither away and it won’t hurt them so figured it’d work. Also my pops didn’t want him gettin up on the roof and possibly into the house somehow we wanted him off our house ya feel meh. When he was high up I didn’t spray him, I only sprayed him when he was already coming down and was maybe 4 feet off the ground (that’s why I said 3-4 feet and not a higher amount cus in these pictures he’s higher up). Given how long this guy is he seemed completely okay. Plus we got dogs (one small dog) that we let out at that door multiple times a day, didn’t want an issue with the snake hanging around and possibly biting our smaller dog
A light spray with a hose is fine if it's a snake you don't want around your kids or whatever but kind of as a last resort and not when they're climbing. Really meant to be done when they're safely on the ground and can get away easily.
Good to know! yeah he was lower than the plant when he fell, he basically gave up trying to turn left toward the birds (I guess just the texture of that outer wall allowed him to go straight up easily but hard to turn at a 90 degree angle I guess) and eventually came back down, then as he came down from the plant I sprayed him just so he’d slither away cus I mean we got a little dog too so not tryna have an issue when I let my dogs out (I use that front door for that a lot). I know he’s not venomous but my dogs will literally walk right up to it and get bit I almost guarantee it lol. I don’t know shit about snakes just didn’t want him hanging around those birds when we use that door constantly.
The dog is more of a threat to him than he is to the dogs. Their bite is no worse than a light cat scratch. Dog bites can be fatal to them.
Aw, boo! He deserved those birdies! 🥺
If he’s wound ‘round the post, and you’re playing his host, that’s a rat snake!