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Austin Herpetological Society
Austin, TX
 
 
 
Texas Rat Snake
Photo Credit: Steve Schwartzman
TEXAS RAT SNAKE: Elaphe obsoleta lindheimerii

This is the most common large snake in the Austin area.

The snake is often incorrectly called a 'chicken snake', probably became of it's fondness for hen's eggs. It is often misidentified for several reasons. This snake will vibrate its tail, and depending on what the tail is hitting against may make a sound that will make you think that you are dealing with a Rattlesnake, even though they have no rattle!

While the juveniles are colored with brown blotches on a gray background, the adult's dark gray to black blotches will be on a red, orange, yellow, or even white background, giving the snake a wide range of possible color combinations. The adults are from 4 to 6 feet long, but I have actually caught one near Zilker Park that was 7'1" long!

These snakes will eat any kind of rodent, birds, and bird eggs. They are excellent climbers, and will go into attics and under homes in search of prey.

These snakes are very aggressive when cornered or captured. But hey, if your main diet consisted of rats, you'd probably have an attitude problem, too. These snakes are constrictors, but not venomous. If you don't have any food for them around your house, they will tend to stay away.

These are one of the most beneficial snakes in the Austin area, because of their ability to keep the rodent population down. - Tim Cole
 

March 31, 2004 - Travis County, Texas
by Jack Jeansonne

I just realized that today was a first for me. My first LIVE emoryi and my first EVER racer. Not a bad day at all.

Here are some of the particulars-

Participants:
Marty Wamsley, Tim Cole, Adam Dawson, Dana Larsen, Lee Hoy, Jack Jeansonne

Totals:
8 Pantherophis (Elaphe) guttata emoryi - great plains rat snakes
1 Pantherophis (Elaphe) obsoletus lindheimeri - TX rat snake
2 Crotalus atrox - western diamondback rattler
1 Coluber constrictor - eastern yellowbelly racer
1 Masticophus flagellum - western coachwhip
Several Bufo valliceps - gulf coast toads
Several more Hemidactylus - mediterranean Geckos

Animals we were surprised not to see: Green anoles, ground skinks

People we were surprised not to see: Dr. Phil Ralidus
Other people who should have come even if their mother-in-law WAS in town (or maybe because of it): Ed Acuna

Person who found 2 rattlesnakes under 1 board and is immune to the evils of poison ivy: Tim

Person who is still squeamish about getting a little snake bite:
Dana (he is used to python bites, and even though we tell him colubrid bites are not so bad, he still doesn't buy it).

Person who gladly watched with his camera while we did all the work:
Marty, who happily danced off to class with his goodie bag.

Person who found 4 colubrids and wisely grabbed the coachwhip first, then called for help on the rat snakes:
Jack

Person who got snakebit the most today(a baby TX ratsnake), and is also immune to poison ivy:
Adam

Person who used a sunbeam snake as a burrowing desert snake to shock and awe old ladies in his congregation:
Lee, who also found the lovliest little emoryi ever.

We had a lot of fun. That site is a good luck charm for me. Thanks a ton, Tim and everyone for a fantastic day.

PS: One the way home, I stopped at another trash site and found a huge, gorgeous TX rat snake. It was the most orange I've ever seen, even with its being opaque. If I had the nerve to keep a fiesty 5+- foot long TX rat, I would have kept it. Also, I found a small coachwhip under the same board.

 
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