This large non-venomous snake is found from the bayous of Louisiana through the prairies and Hill Country of Central Texas. It can also be found in cities such as Dallas, Fort Worth, or Houston. The single most important factor influencing the occurrence of this snake is the presence of oak trees, which they use to hunt in and also escape predators that may eat them.
It’s color is highly variable throughout it’s range and adults usually measure from 3.5 - 6 feet in length, the record length for this subspecies of Elaphe is 86" (7 feet 2 inches).
Wild Texas Rat snakes are considered to have a cranky temperament, and will often react defensively to handling by aggressively biting. However, some individuals can be fairly docile (only biting if you move too fast), and captive-raised specimens that have been handled are usually fairly tame.
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| Mr. Dave and a wild Texas Rat snake found in his yard |
This species is a voracious predator of rodents of all sizes, with large adults being able to take prey up to the size of a fox squirrel. They also prey on wild birds and their eggs, lizards, frogs and some individuals frequent chicken coops in search of eggs and chicks, earning it the local nickname “Chicken snake”. This subspecies is a very skilled climber, able to climb trunks of trees vertically by clinging to cracks in the bark. They are also capable swimmers, frequently hunting riverbanks from the water.
Most snakes in Texas are not venomous and are only trying to mind their own business and find food, water and safety, just like you!
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