The Black Rat Snakes, also known as the Eastern rat snake, are large non-venomous snakes between 3.5 and 7 feet long. They have shiny black scales on their back, a light-colored underbelly, and a white throat and chin.

Black Rat Snake

Black Rat Snakes Habitat

Rat snakes are found throughout every southeastern state and most of the eastern and midwestern states as far north as southern New England and southern Michigan. Rat snakes occupy a wide variety of habitats including rocky timbered hills, hardwood forests, river floodplains, and swamp margins. They are commonly found in abandoned buildings and barns and are often the most common large snake in suburban areas. Rat snakes are constrictors and expert climbers that can scale brick walls as well as tree trunks!

Black Rat Snake Eating Habits

Adult rat snakes primarily eat mice, rats, squirrels, and birds, as well as bird eggs. They are a common predator on wood duck eggs. Young rat snakes will eat small frogs, lizards, and small rodents.

Are Black Rat Snakes Dangerous?

Black rat snakes are the largest species of rat snake and while their appearance may be menacing to many of us, they are non-venomous and pose no threat to humans. They will, however, kill rodents and other small animals by constriction. Although rat snakes are non-venomous and lack two fangs seen in venomous species, a bite from any rat snake can be rather painful, as the saliva of the snake may contain bacteria causing an infection that must be treated. As with any snake species, it is best to not handle or trap a snake without the assistance of a professional snake removal specialist, or wildlife removal specialist.

Are Black Rat Snakes Beneficial?

Black rat snakes are very beneficial to have around your property since they eat large amounts of rats, mice, and other pest animals. Farms and other agricultural properties benefit from having these particular snakes around for this very reason.

Best Ways to Get Rid of Black Rat Snake

The best way to handle a black rat snake on your property is to leave it alone if it isn’t posing a threat to you or your pets or call a snake removal specialist to trap and release the snake to another location.