It's a Rat Snake. It looks like an intergrade between a Gray Rat Snake and a Black Rat Snake. Alabama has the Gray Rat Snake, the Black Rat Snake, and a large crossover population where the gene pools intergrade. This looks like a snake from an intergrade population. Rat Snakes are very large and harmless snakes.

Sorry for the double post. We are under a tornado watch, and there are serious storms. I did not realize it had posted since everything froze then went white. I went back to the forum, and the post did not show up, so I reposted. So sorry folks. Just feel free to ignore this one. EG

Nice Pictures! I can answer your question. That black snake is a black rat snake. Was that midland water snake (subspecies of the northern water snake) found at LaRue Road. I have never found a midland water there before. In fact I don't think I know anyone who has seen one there either. I'm sure they have a good population there, but it surprises me that you saw one. They generally inhabit lakes, creeks and rivers. One doesn't usually see a midland or northern water snake in cypress swamp. I have seen them up north in oxbow lakes. I did see a midland water snake at Mingo swamp in a ditch, but that is far as my northern water snake experience goes. Nice find. Ryan

Already answered on another forum.