Western Rat Snake
Pantherophis obsoletus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: P. obsoletus
Widespread throughout the central United States, roughly west of the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains, and from southern Canada down to the Gulf Coast and northeastern Mexico.
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). Generally abundant, though threatened locally by habitat loss and senseless killing due to confusion with venomous species.
Physical Description
A grey to dark brown ground color with distinct darker dorsal blotches. Juveniles (like this specimen) have very clear, high-contrast patterns that often darken with age. The head is wider than the neck, eyes have round pupils, and scales are weakly keeled.
Size & Dimensions
This specimen appears to be a juvenile approximately 12-18 inches long. Adults typically range from 3.5 to 6 feet, with record lengths exceeding 7 feet.
Habitat
Highly adaptable; found in hardwood forests, swamps, rocky hillsides, and farm fields. They are frequently found in suburban areas, often entering barns, attics, and gardens in search of rodents.
Diet & Feeding
Generalist carnivores. Diet includes rodents, birds, and eggs. They are powerful constrictors that hunt via active foraging and opportunistic ambush.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying). Females lay clutches of 10 to 30 eggs in mid-summer, usually in hollow logs or mulch piles, which hatch in late summer or early fall.
Look-alikes
Often confused with the Western Fox Snake, Bullsnake, or the venomous Copperhead. Distinguishable from vipers by round pupils, absence of heat pits, and a lack of a thick, triangular head.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN). Generally abundant, though threatened locally by habitat loss and senseless killing due to confusion with venomous species.
Cultural Significance
Highly valued by farmers and homeowners for their role in natural pest control, as they are prolific hunters of agricultural and household rodents.
Notable Features
Renowned for their exceptional climbing ability; they are frequently found high in trees or on vertical walls. Their tendency to 'kink' their body into a series of 'S' curves when still is a signature physiological behavior.