The black rat snake is one of the most misunderstood snakes in our area.

With a name like black rat snake, you might guess what they eat. These snakes don’t have whiskers and fur -- they eat rats, mice, chipmunks, frogs, lizards and even birds.

Like their colubrid cousin the corn snake, they are a farmer’s friend, eating the rodents that would otherwise ruin crops and potentially spread disease.

When they’re born, juvenile black rat snakes have a very vivid pattern of white, black, brown and charcoal grey. This pattern acts as camouflage, hiding the young snake from both its predators and its prey.

As they age, black rat snakes gradually lose their pattern. By the time they’ve matured, their entire bodies are a uniform black color with a white underbelly. These snakes can grow quite large, generally in the range of 40 - 70 inches at their maximum length, or more than five feet.

Sadly, many people see any snake with a pattern and harm them in the mistaken belief that all patterned snakes are copperheads. Black rat snakes are much more common than copperheads and much more likely to wander into our homes and crawlspaces in search of prey and safe places to rest.

At the Museum, we have one juvenile black rat snake that is used for our educational programs and classes. He’s a captive-bred male who is very used to being handled. The Museum is also home to two adult black rat snakes.

Stop by Creature Cavern to meet one of our resident snakes!