Snake Identification

[+OzGuff]

Anyone care to ID this snake:

 

seldom_seen's log for the Terpsichorean Man cache

 

Location of cache is not too far NNW of Atlanta, GA.

[+ZackJones]

On the Geogia Geocaching forums everyone seems to think it's a black rat snake. Personally I don't care what kind of snake it is. If I saw that big boy I'd be freaking out!

[+jamrasc]

Looks like a black rat snake to me. They don't bother anyone. They are good to have around.

[+Hikenit]

Rat Snake

"Elaphe obsoleta"

Common. Rat snakes are found in a wide variety of habitats, but are most common in wooded or swampy areas. Adults frequently attain lengths of more than 4 ft. Coastal forms are olive with 4 dark stripes on the back; inland specimens range from black to light gray or brown with darker blotches andhave a light belly with dark blotches. They feed on birds and their eggs as well as rodents, such as rats, mice, and squirrels. Known as the “chicken snake” in farming areas because they will readily eat chicks and chicken eggs, rat snakes also enter barns in search of mice and rats. Like corn snakes, they are very good climbers.

 

Compiled from Snakes of Georgia and South Carolina

[+JoGPS]

To me any snake is deadly, shoot just trying to run from it can get you dead, have run into trees and all sorts of stuff Can you tell I don’t like snakes …………. JOE

[MapheadMike]

The guess here is that someone released a pet, non-indeginous python to liven up hiker's days in North Georgia. It looks like it had eaten fairly recently, there is a little bit of a bulge, maybe rabbit or squirrel size.

[+Lone Star Drifter]

I can tell you for a fact it is a black rat snake. They are harmless to humans but can be quiet intimidating when climbing a tree right next to you. They climb trees in order to get into birds nests and woodpecker nests (to feed on eggs and young birds) that are generally inside a cavity approximetly 25ft up.

One time I was working in the woods and I felt my foot move and when I looked down there one was. And a big one at that. I screamed like a little girl !!!!

[MapheadMike]

How big is the snake in question and do rat snakes get that big?

 

The references that I've found say the largest rat snake recorded was 8' 5". Between the size of the leaves, saplings, and the camera angle, I think the snake in question is well over that.

[+OzGuff]

From the horses's mouth (or at least from seldom_seen) the tree was 4-5 inches wide and the snake was about 5 feet long. The photo definitely makes the snake look much, much longer. Based on this new information I think the black rat snake hypothesis has credence. Thanks to all who threw in their couple of cents.

[+Spencersb]

This sounds like what happened to us at this cache, except our snake was an honest to goodness cottonmouth, fortunately never closer than about 20 feet!

 

Hoot Owl tried to tell me that the snake was as scared of me as I was of it.

 

Well, he must be scared SPITLESS, then!

[coolcars011]

i used to have a pet of this snake,, it becomes tamed very easily,, i have upgraded from those rat snakes(mine was a texas rat snake),, now into boas and pythons,, but all reptiles!..

[Mvillian]

yes a rat snake, they get very big, I once caught one that was over 4 feet long!! it really freaked my wife out when i put him in a bucket between us in the car. needless to say it was not long before i had to stop and release it

[+wimseyguy]

I like snakes. I like them a lot. I'll second the votes for harmless black rat snake.

Keeps the mouse and rat population down, or do you prefer them to snakes?

I had a baby boa once, called him Rocky. No really! He liked to ride in the car and hang off of the rear view mirror. Finally had to get rid of him when he got over 4'.

Edited January 8, 2005 by wimseyguy

[+Spencersb]

do you prefer them to snakes?

In a word, yes! Now, if I run up on a spider more than 5'9", I might change my mind.

 

Like when I told our pest control guy about catching my 18 month old son chasing a nickel sized black hairy spider across the living room floor . He said "Oh that's just a wolf spider, you WANT him! He eats other spiders!"

 

I told him, "I pay YOU to get rid of the other spiders!"

 

I won't go out of my way to kill a snake, unless he's a threat, but I'd just as soon we avoid each other to begin with. That's what I like about caching right now! Not too many snake problems when it's 35 degrees!

[Spamiam]

I was bitten on the toes by a copperhead a couple of years ago.

 

 

During the 8 week recovery, I put together a snakes and snakebite guide, hoping to provide useful information for others. Anyone traipsing around in the woods might find a tidbit here to take along with them.

 

If you're interested, you can find it here. <a href='http://www.computergirl.net/spamiam/snakes/index.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.computergirl.net/spamiam/snakes/index.htm</a>

 

And yep - that one up there is a ratsnake, simply called "blacksnake" in these parts.

 

How big is that thing? Looks about 10 ft! That's a pree-mo specimen thar! A snake that big doesn't need to be venomous, does it?

 

You might want to send a copy of that to your local university. Someone from there would probably be interested in checking that guy out.

 

Best,

Edited January 10, 2005 by Spamiam

[+bitbrain]

If you're interested, you can find it here. <a href='http://www.computergirl.net/spamiam/snakes/index.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.computergirl.net/spamiam/snakes/index.htm</a>

 

That site is a great resource for snake information and identification. Bravo!

[Spamiam]

Thanks! I had a bit of time on my hands (vs on my feet).

 

I might link this on the main topic forum, too. I hope the redundancy is OK.

 

Be sure to read about what to put in your first aid kit!

[+Papa Bill]

I wouldn't use the word harmless, just because they aren't poisonous. I have had ratsnakes before and they can still bite the hell out of you.