Why this Black RAT SNAKE is Special 🐍  

Well said Sharon! Thank you for the visit today.

Same here !

We agree Katie!

Thank you for that Sam, we are just happy he is in our territory.

He probably would have preferred a mouse.

We will be sure and keep an eye out for any photo observations. Thank you for the visit today.

But what if he couldn’t catch the mouse? @@varanid9

When you gave him the crickets you became his best friend for keeps. That's how animals are.

Thank you for the comment Parker!

@@BackyardBertha , I've had a few as pets. One that I had, in Texas we ended up giving him to an Institute that takes them around to schools for children to see. Grew to little over 7 feet. .. his name was Claude. I caught him when he was four foot long.

Your story is wonderful Parker. Really enjoyed learning about your pet Claude!

They get big for a rat snake, and they will eat kittens. We had a feral kitten in our yard then it disappeared, I suspect that one of the rat snakes got it.

Glad to hear that you found a helpful fiend there.

Wow, thanks so very much Greg!

Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for the comment, wow 8'.

That's a great story, hello to your Norman!

Please keep Norman around

We agree. Thank you! Cheers!

We agree Bill, and understand too.

It's happening all over the world m8. Hi from Oz.

Thank you for the comment and visit today.

Thank you so much!

Thank you for sharing you adventures with the wildlife John. Did you say skunk?

@@BackyardBertha Yep. 😆

Wow, that's a story to remember Jerry! Agree.

Done it many times as a kid. My job to go gather from the laying boxes. My papa had a pet king snake. And one of these big rat snakes that hung out by the corn crib. And occasionally would be in the chicken coop. He forbid anyone from harming one. Saying “ they eat a few eggs , but they eat all the rats and most of the poisonous snakes , which is a fair trade “ 😅. Each had to be 6-7 feet long. They were huge old snakes. But I still hated to be surprised by one.

We agree too, thank you for sharing.

Thanks for visiting

Thank you for your visit today.

You bet!

Wow, 8', thanks Hookset!

Wow, never have seen that. Thank you for the visit and comment Jim!

We appreciate your comments and visit today!

Well said!

Thank you very much!

Good idea! I am always on the lookout for our wildlife.

Glad you enjoyed

Agree 100%

Indeed he is.

We have seen that too. Thanks for the comment today!

Part of the reason I got a pet snake is that I am fascinated by snakes as symbols. Black rat snakes in particular are fascinating symbols of tenacity, being an animal where there are stories, of them overcoming birds of prey that tried to prey on them. There are also stories black rat snakes lead other snakes to safety for winter, hence their other name, pilot black snake. I doubt black rat snakes actually lead other snakes to burrows in winter, but there are accounts of them brumating alongside other species. Rattlesnakes were used as symbols in the early history of the United States, "don't tread on me" because for their method of avoiding confrontation with their rattle, but willingness to strike if all other options are gone. Then there is the famous "Join or Die" cartoon's depicting a snake in many severed pieces, each piece with the initials of a state. In the Old Testament, the fiery serpent Moses held up was a symbol of Truth and Christ. Fiery, probably means, venomous, since Truth, reality, and Christ have real power, and venom, would be a symbol of power. Look to Christ who is Truth, and you can be saved the consequences of previously ignoring truth, and, be brought, through Christ, into alignment with truth. In the New Testament, Christ uses them as a symbol of wisdom when he told early Christians to be wise as serpents. Serpents, wise I think in the sense that there are many truths other animals can ignore, but snakes cannot. Snakes don't produce enough body heat to digest food in winter, they cannot run away if caught in the open, etc. I do wonder why a serpent was used as a symbol of Satan. Well, I do somewhat know why the ouroboros (snake eating it's own tail) is used as a symbol for what I consider to be, the most evil, genus, of religions on earth. But that is a story most won't want to learn about. (Snake, eats itself to create itself, a symbol of man as the creator, who creates himself, man creates society creates man creates... etc.) Well, I could go on, many people have used the idea of shedding their skin to symbolize changing themselves etc. But this is already a cumbersome wall of text.

Thank you for sharing your story. Really like the pilot story, leading other to safety too.

Thank you for the observation on Racers today.

I think that you did the right thing. Thank you for the comment today.

Awe, blushing. Merci!

Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

You could be on to something, all the same, really appreciate your visit today.

I agree I'm pretty sure that's a rat snake. Great to have on ones property. I had one for many years (named him Jake)until he/she got out under my privacy fence and was hit by a car. Still he/she managed to get back home before it died. A year later I saw a couple of the offspring in the garden and the young look very different until they mature. I was happy once again. They get very used to seeing a person and just do their thing. Awesome find.

We are glad to read that your Rat snake story lives on...

Have both on my property and can only tell the difference by behavior

Thank you for sharing and the visit Donna!

Wow, that sounds like a cool sighting!

Thank you David.

@@BackyardBertha welcome 😎

It is 5.8333 feet, why do you ask?

@@BackyardBertha Because I don't know, and I am lazy, and it's easier to ask you. 5 feet, apparently I am 5'8, so it's as long as me, but most people in the world use metric, we really don't get a picture of anything from feet and inches. I just happen to know my height in the old measurements. I love snakes BTW. That's a biggish snake. The cobras in my backyard are bigger... Not by much. I am one of those weird people that are in some way attractive to snakes, they always want to be friends with me. Can be anxiety inducing when they are poisonous. But I am kind of used to it. I like the shot at the end where he is looking at you from in the garden, can really see his personality coming through. He is a nice boy.

We plan to give it freedom to enjoy the habitat. Cheers Pete!

@@BackyardBertha I would to, but I would try to make sure that I'm not where he/she is. My mother once told me that everything has a right to live. That stuck with me.

Their teeth are pretty small for their size, from experience, a 4 foot western black rat snake can barely even break the skin. If there is a local place that lets you handle some common pet snakes, you should try it. Many animals, even wild ones, can get used to having people around if they notice that you are never a threat, over time.

Thank you for the visit Cheryl.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Appreciate your comment and observation too.

Thank you for the visit and comments today.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Okay Indy!

Why?

Hey John, Thank you for taking the time to ID this black snake. Glad that you can see both in your lovely Ocala NF.