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Name This Animal

Is this a rat snake?

9 years ago

Florida Panhandle, July.

Featured Answer

Sharon McKenzie

9 years ago

Not a Rat Snake, but a harmless Southern Banded Water Snake, Nerodia fasciata fasciata . In that part of Florida, Rat Snakes aren't dark-colored, but either light silver-gray with darker blotches, aka Gray Rats, or yellowish with length-wise brown stripes, or a combo of stripes and blotches.

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Comments (8)

User
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I think so ... rounded head, large eyes, no "eyebrow" over the eyes.

https://i1.wp.com/wildlifetrapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/venom_vs_non.jpg
User
9 years ago
And it's "smiling" ... the line of the jaw on a water snake ot rat snake turns up at the end as if it's smiling a little, a Cottonmouth's jawline is straight or "frowning".
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It looks a but thick and not as glossy as a Black rat. Also, Black rats are creamy on the belly. Maybe a Northern water snake?
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Last fall we found a fully grown rat snake in our chicken house (pic 1) You can see how big it is in the second pic after I grabbed it to evict it. It had come in through a couple of holes in the chicken yard fence that have since been closed. I didn't want it in there because I was afraid it might kill one of the hens if they got curious with it. Being constrictors it could easily do it even though my hens are too large to swallow. it now uses a large hole in one my live oaks for home and gives fits to the wild birds if they spy it going up or down that tree!.
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mudsnake
Original Author
9 years ago
I have seen plenty of rat snakes on my land, but none this dark. Yet, it was too thick and docile to be a black racer. I live 1500 feet from a lake, so I didn't think a water snake would go this far from the water. The round eyes told me that it wasn't a moccassin.
Sharon McKenzie
9 years ago
Water Snakes aren't always found in or very near Water, and 1500 feet isn't far at all. Contrary to popular belief, Nerodia need to be high and dry most of the time, and staying wet or damp will result in them developing a serious, life-threatening skin infection. They hunt in the water or the water's edge, but retire further away from water to sleep and digest meals, where it's dry.
mudsnake
Original Author
9 years ago
Is this another banded water snake?
Sharon McKenzie
9 years ago
Yes, it is.
mudsnake
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks again!

Clearer photos:

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