WESTERN (BLACK) RAT SNAKE
Pantherophis obsoletu
Constrictor- Nonvenomous
Often called the black snake, western rat snake, black rat snake, pilot black snake, or the Texas Black rat snake. The Western Rat Snake is one of our state's largest and most recognized snakes. It is known to live statewide in Missouri. The adult can be 4-6 feet long with a body mass up to 5 lbs. It eats mice, voles, rats, and other small vertebrates. It is known to also eat frogs, lizards, chipmunks, squirrels, juvenile rabbits, juvenile opossums, songbirds, and bird eggs.
The black rat snakes are excellent climbers and spend a lot of time in trees. They can also be found in farm buildings, hollow trees, old houses, rocky wooded hillsides, rotted stumps and wooded areas along streams and rivers. This snake is also a competent swimmer.
When startled, they may freeze and wrinkle themselves into a series of kinks. If they feel further threatened, they will try to escape or even vibrate their tail. They will also produce a foul-smelling musk, which they will release onto predators if picked up. When cornered or provoked, black snakes are known to stand their ground and can become aggressive and will bite.
Note: Snakes considered constrictors kill their prey by suffocating it. They coil around small animals tightening their grip until it can no longer draw breath, before eating them.
Often called the black snake, western rat snake, black rat snake, pilot black snake, or the Texas Black rat snake. The Western Rat Snake is one of our state's largest and most recognized snakes. It is known to live statewide in Missouri. The adult can be 4-6 feet long with a body mass up to 5 lbs. It eats mice, voles, rats, and other small vertebrates. It is known to also eat frogs, lizards, chipmunks, squirrels, juvenile rabbits, juvenile opossums, songbirds, and bird eggs.
The black rat snakes are excellent climbers and spend a lot of time in trees. They can also be found in farm buildings, hollow trees, old houses, rocky wooded hillsides, rotted stumps and wooded areas along streams and rivers. This snake is also a competent swimmer.
When startled, they may freeze and wrinkle themselves into a series of kinks. If they feel further threatened, they will try to escape or even vibrate their tail. They will also produce a foul-smelling musk, which they will release onto predators if picked up. When cornered or provoked, black snakes are known to stand their ground and can become aggressive and will bite.
Note: Snakes considered constrictors kill their prey by suffocating it. They coil around small animals tightening their grip until it can no longer draw breath, before eating them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
