Western Rat Snake
Pantherophis obsoletus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: P. obsoletus
Commonly found throughout North America, specifically from the Mississippi River west to the Rocky Mountains, and from southern Canada down to the Gulf of Mexico (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana).
Look up Western Rat Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: P. obsoletus
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN); widespread and adaptable, though they face threats from habitat fragmentation and intentional killing due to being mistaken for venomous species.
Physical Description
The specimen displays a greyish-brown base with dark, irregular blotches along the back. The head is wider than the neck, appearing somewhat wedge-shaped. Eyes have round pupils. Scales are weakly keeled, and the body has a distinct 'loaf of bread' cross-section.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen in the image is a juvenile/sub-adult approximately 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) long. Adults typically range from 3 to 5 feet (90-150 cm), with specimens occasionally reaching up to 7 feet (213 cm).
Habitat
Generalist species occurring in forests, woodlands, rocky hillsides, and grasslands; highly adapted to suburban environments, often found in barns, attics, and gardens from sea level to mid-elevations.
Diet & Feeding
Active foragers and powerful constrictors. Diet consists primarily of rodents (rats, mice), birds, and bird eggs. They often hunt in rafters of buildings or high in trees.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying). Females lay clutches of 10-20 eggs in hollow logs, mulch piles, or leaf litter during the summer, typically hatching in late summer or early fall.
Look-alikes
Often confused with the Western Fox Snake (P. ramspotti), North American Racer (Coluber constrictor), or the venomous Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix). Can be distinguished from Copperheads by its round pupils and lack of hourglass-shaped bands.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN); widespread and adaptable, though they face threats from habitat fragmentation and intentional killing due to being mistaken for venomous species.
Cultural Significance
Highly valued by farmers and homeowners for significant ecological roles in pest management, naturally reducing rodent populations that spread disease.
Notable Features
Highly varied ontogenetic color changes; juveniles are vividly blotched but many populations darken significantly (becoming 'Black Rat Snakes') as they reach adulthood.