Species guide
Eastern rat snake
HarmlessPantherophis alleghaniensis
How to recognise it
A long (up to ~2 m), shiny black snake with a pale chin and belly, sometimes showing a faint checkerboard pattern. An excellent climber.
Is it dangerous?
Non-venomous and beneficial — a superb rodent controller. If cornered it may vibrate its tail or release musk, but it isn't dangerous.
Commonly confused with
- Black racer — slimmer, faster, with a smooth satiny black look
What to do
Leave it alone; it's doing free pest control around barns and gardens.
Recorded 18,939 times in the wild worldwide.
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