Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Unexpected Guest


Today we worked at the old farmhouse again and one of the carpenters was yelling about something so we went to see what it was.Just a simple black snake looking for food I would guess.I just picked him up and moved him aside so he wouldn't get run over in the driveway and off he went about his business.this picture was the actual snake mentioned.


Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta)


The Black Rat Snake is one of several subspecies of Rat Snakes (Yellow and Gray Rat Snakes are others). Rat Snakes are common throughout the eastern U.S., although the black subspecies of rat snake does not occur in Florida. This snake can be quite large (it may exceed six feet in length) and has slightly keeled scales (raised ridge along the middle of each scale) that make it appear somewhat rough. Its back is almost entirely black (small flecks of whitish color may show through the black), whereas its chin and belly have a lot of white markings. Black Rat Snakes are excellent climbers and are found in a great variety of habitats, ranging from pine forests to agricultural fields. They feed primarily on rodents, birds and birds' eggs.



The snake did finally find its way to an old barn in its attempt to get away from us.

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