Let me tell you about the largest species of snake- the black rat snake. They are the heavyweight champion of the rat snake family, growing up to the jaw-dropping 8 feet in length. You’ll know one when you see it, with that sleek jet-black or dark grey coloring. You’ll notice their underbelly has a cool patterned look, usually grey or brown. They are also known as black mountain snake, rusty black snake, pilot rat snake, sleepy John, and black Coluber. They are usually quite easily recognizable over much of their range, barring a second, similar species such as the northern black racer. And let me tell you, black rat snakes really earn their keep.

If you spot one slithering around an old barn or abandoned building, consider yourself lucky. These guys are total MVPs when it comes to rodent control, gobbling up all those pesky mice and rats. So if you see one, just leave it be and let it do its thing – you’ll be glad to have that natural exterminator on the job. The captive longevity record for this species is just over 34 years. That’s pretty darn impressive for a snake! If you want to try keeping one as a pet, you’ll need a nice big glass tank, at least as long as the snake itself.

Creating a Cozy Home: Expert Tips for the Well-being of Black Rat Snakes in Captivity

Karina Newman, a Financial Expert, Home Expert, and owner/investor of a real estate company, iBuyers, suggests some unique care aspects to ensure the well-being of black rat snakes in captivity:

• Home Sweet Home: Make sure the snake’s house is like a comfy apartment. It needs space to slither around and climb, so decorate it with branches and cozy spots to chill.
• Temperature and Lighting: Keep the house warm on one side (like a sunny spot) and cooler on the other. No need for special sunlight bulbs, but a regular day-night cycle is good.
• Comfy Bedding: Imagine picking a bedding that feels like a mix between a soft forest floor and sandy dirt. Change it up when it gets messy.
• Humidity Spa Day: Sometimes, make the air a bit damp for shedding skin. Think of it like a spa day for your snake.
• Dining Choices: Feed your snake a menu of mice and rats, adjusting portion sizes as it grows. Water should be on the menu every day.
• Health Checkup: Keep an eye on your snake buddy. Look at its eyes, skin, and how it moves, and if something seems off, consult a snake doctor (vet).
• Friendly Hangouts: If you want to hang out with your snake, [do it gently]. Imagine if someone picked you up; you’d want them to be careful, [right]?

What are the Other Habits of Black Rat Snakes?

• Food/Diet Habits: Mostly, they prefer mice, rats, rodents, chipmunks, and snakes as their food.  They squeeze their prey to death and swallow it whole. These are skillful hunters of small animals. They can consume an entire clutch of Mallard eggs. It is observed that these snakes also eat frogs, juvenile rabbits, songbirds, opossums, and bird eggs.
• Mating Process: They tend to wait for the females and fight with each other to be with them. The male snake wraps its tail around the female with its vents nearly touching. They mate in a specific season of the year, around May to late June.
• Reproduction: Black rat snakes laid down their eggs around mid to late July. Female ones lay between 12-20 eggs. They are oviparous with a repeating reproductive cycle. After a certain period of around 60 days, the baby black rat snake hatch from the eggs. These female snakes need a suitable environment to lay their eggs; they choose a pile of vegetation or a rotting log.
• Survival of the Fittest: These baby snakes are born ready to survive alone. They do not stay together and are loners from birth. 
• Coping Mechanism: Black rat snakes make sounds like rattlesnakes to trick whatever threatens them. They produce foul-smelling musk when they are harassed. If they are frightened by anything, they will freeze at that point. Even if they are not venomous, they produce foul-smelling when they pick up predators. They create a musk smell that is quite obnoxious.
• Venomous or Dangerous: These snakes generally avoid contact with humans. They are naturally not aggressive, and they do not release venom. These snakes are not strong enough to coil around a human body.
• Geographic Distribution: They are found in Oklahoma and eastern Kansas, west of the Mississippi River, and southern Iowa. Black rat snakes are mainly found in hardwood forests, sea level, highest regions of the Appalachian mountains.

Wildlife Stewards: The Role of Black Rat Snakes in Our Ecosystems

Dr. Mollie Newton, a devoted animal lover and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at PetMeTwice.com shares their veterinary expertise on conservation efforts related to the black rat snake:” Black rat snakes play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of local ecosystems, particularly in controlling rodent populations. These snakes are excellent hunters, preying mainly on mice, rats, and other small rodents, [which are] known for reproducing rapidly. By keeping the rodent population in check, they help prevent the overconsumption of crops and stored grains by rodents, thus indirectly supporting agricultural health and reducing the spread of certain rodent-borne diseases.

Additionally, their presence in ecosystems can indicate a healthy environment, as they are sensitive to pollution and habitat destruction. Conservation efforts for black rat snakes often involve habitat protection and restoration, as habitat loss due to human activity is a significant threat to their populations. Some regions have also implemented specific measures to protect snake habitats, like creating wildlife corridors or enforcing regulations against [destroying] natural snake habitats.”

Interesting Facts About Black Rat Snake:

• The common name for these is the chicken snake because black rats are sometimes found near chicken coops and hen houses, where they may occasionally feed on chicken eggs.
• They avoid contact with humans and nature; they are not aggressive.
• They eat small rodents, which helps to control the resident rodent population.
• The name pilot snake comes from the belief that they lead to safe burrows to brumate in.
• These snakes will typically spend the winter with other black rat snakes and snakes like rattlesnakes and copperheads.
• They live in a wide variety of habitats that range from flat farmland to rocky hillsides.
• The adults can be up to 8 feet in length. This makes them the biggest of all snakes found in Canada.
• Like other species, the colors of this one work to allow it to blend in well with the surroundings.
• If you can overcome your fears, they’re good to have around your garage or barn to keep mice away.
• The male rat snakes are usually more significant than the females. The females devote a high proportion of their weight to egg production.
• All species of rat snakes can swim brilliantly.
• Some predators of rat snakes include humans, hawks, raccoons, and bobcats.
• A black rat snake can easily fool its potential predators by vibrating its tail to look like a rattlesnake.
• Newly hatched ones measure about 12 inches in length.
• They are commonly found in North America, Central America, and Southern Canada.
• They can emit pungently.
• They Mate With Copperheads.

 Guest Author: Saket Kumar

Last Updated on April 7, 2024 by Mehnaz