Nature News | Marlene A. Condon August 7, 2021
One day as I pulled out plants growing underneath my bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora), I looked up and discovered a large black rat snake resting directly above me on a branch, only inches from my head. I immediately backed out from under the bush and ran — not because I was scared, but because I was excited to have an opportunity to photograph this animal and I needed to get my camera!
Sadly, many folks would have run instead for something with which they could kill the serpent. It’s unfortunate that man’s seemingly inborn fear of snakes results in many of these animals dying needlessly. Snakes are not as dangerous as people think. As with all wild animals, they should simply be shown respect. Don’t mess with them, and they won’t mess with you.
Because snakes are much smaller than humans, they are bound to be the losers in a combative encounter. As a result, snakes would much rather slither away than interact with people, and that is exactly what they will do if given the chance. (If they have just eaten a big meal, however, they may have to stay put to digest it first.)
Black rat snakes are one of our most abundant snakes. Adults are usually black on top and off-white underneath, although juveniles have conspicuous blotches. The chin and throat areas are white or cream-colored. Black rat snakes can grow up to 6 feet long, making them one of our largest snakes. They are not venomous, killing their prey by constricting (squeezing) an animal until it suffocates.
The black rat snake, as its name implies, feeds mostly upon rats and mice. However, this species is an excellent climber and will also make a meal of birds and their eggs.
Folks don’t like to see eggs or chicks taken from bird nests, whether by snakes or other kinds of predators, but it’s important to recognize that this activity must occur. If all the eggs survived to produce chicks, and all the chicks survived to adulthood, the natural world would become overcrowded. There simply isn’t enough space or food for every animal given life each year to survive.
That said, you shouldn’t entice birds to nest in locations easily accessible to predators. Use baffles for bird boxes on poles and make sure the house is properly made so your birds have a lower probability of being taken by a predator. But if they do get taken, don’t begrudge the predator its meal; try to remember it is simply doing its job.
You can live safely among snakes by employing common sense. The most important rule to learn — preferably when young, but it’s never too late to learn — is to never, ever stick your hands or feet into places where you can’t see what’s there. And, pay attention when walking so you don’t step on a snake resting in the pathway.
Please keep in mind that snakes are intriguing animals just doing their part to keep our environment functioning properly.