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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
 

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