The Black Rat Snake is not one of Wildlife Works “usual suspects.” Patient admission records show a relatively low number of reptiles compared to songbird admissions, making each serpent a rarity. In this case, the Black Rat Snake arrived at Wildlife Works in early June diagnosed with septicemia.
The Black Rat Snake is just one sub specie of the Rat Snake in the United States. Other North American subspecies include the Yellow Rat Snake and the Texas Rat Snake. Sometimes called the ‘chicken snake’ or ‘pilot snake,’ the Black Rat Snake is the largest snake found in Pennsylvania. They average between four and six feet in length, although the longest reported length is 103 inches! Adult snakes are black in color and may have small light areas of white, red or tan showing through their scales, with a higher likelihood in young adults. In contrast, hatchlings are a pattern of dark gray or black colorations on a lighter background of gray or tan, giving them a look somewhat similar to rattlesnakes or copperheads. As the hatchlings grow, their coloring changes to the solid black look of the adults and it is this transformation that results in the highly variable lighter patches in the adult coloration.
The only snake similar in appearance to the adult Black Rat Snake in our area is the Northern Black Racer. It is also long and black in color, but the dorsal of the Rat Snake has a rough, matt look to it, in contrast to the Racer, which has a smooth glossy appearance.
Black Rat Snakes are non-venomous, powerful constrictors that feed mainly on moles, mice and other small rodents, and sometimes small birds and bird eggs. This diet is likely the reason for their known habitats. Living areas range from fields and meadows to deep woods to abandoned barns or little used basements. They are also accomplished climbers and can often be found in trees and even attics or walls of buildings. And while usually not welcomed by human inhabitants, these snakes often rid their habitats of rodents.
Our patient may require many more weeks or months to fully recover. Some might question our decision to give such long-term treatment to a snake, but we view all native creatures as our “wild neighbors,” deserving of our compassion and care. |
