Another great video Mark. Thanks to you and your fellow herping buddies for finding these beautiful snakes for us all to enjoy, and for not over handling them in the process and stressing them out.
Neat. I didn't know there were Rat Snakes in New England. While hiking the AT in Virginia in June 2023. I took pictures of three black snakes. All three look like different types of snakes. Everybody tells me they are Rat Snakes, only they don't look like your Black Rat Snakes.
There aren't widespread in NE and are mostly restricted to CT and central MA (and an isolated population in VT). Eastern rat snakes can vary in color/pattern. Moreover, younger animals exhibit a distinct pattern, which fades to a more uniform black as they age.
I’m an outdoorsman but me and snakes don’t jive. I try stay away from them and hopefully they return the favor. How did you pick them up without getting bit? Seen a snake on the road other day and it looked like it was getting into striking pose when i neared. Is it possible to overcome fear of snakes?
You are certainly not alone, in fact sharing the same fear with the majority of people. It is possible to overcome the fear of snakes and you inquiring about it is the first step. I have personally quelled such fears with several folks over the years...mind you they are still not fan of snakes but at least don't mind their presence anymore. My suggestion is visiting a local educational reptile center or any facility that has some type of community outreach involving animal education presentation etc, and inform someone on the staff that you fear snakes and want to overcome at least some of it. Usually the will introduce you to their most passive pet snake from a distance and go from there. You will find that in a controlled situation with someone else holding the snake that they don't seem menacing or unpredictable. Within minutes you might even touch the tail of snake and quickly realize that the tactile sensation is not unpleasant, in fact far from it. Anyway, I could go on and on, something to consider if you find yourself more and more hindered from loving the outdoors because you might encounter a snake.
Lower Delaware is completely flat. Much easier terrain to find them. Sometimes, I go right out my door, and they're right in the yard. But what's the fun in that, right? Great video.
Still, it is rewarding finding the "easy" ones and to know that rat snakes can coexist alongside humans (at least the ones that don't kill them) and can be beneficial by controlling rodent populations.
I have photos from back in the 80’s at a family reunion in Virginia. I wandered away from the house to find a old boat shed and saw a big snake in the rafters. Knocked it down caught it then thought everyone would want to see. I was wrong! They were freaking out! Screaming at me, the 12 year old to not bring that anywhere near the house! 🤣
Great site, and well done footage. Black ratsnakes are certainly one of the more exciting species on the continent. A little concerning being the amount of handling going on. Depending how many people frequent this site and how often at these vulnerable times of year for the snakes, it's a good idea to keep disturbances to an absolute minimum. "Observer effect" is a source of stress for snakes. Not handling the snakes is one way of minimizing this. Keeping such sites a secret is another. You may know you mean no harm. To them, you are all intruders.
Another wonderful video! You showcased them really well man. I've yet to find wisconsin's version of the black rat, the gray ratsnake (pretty sure it is)
Thank you so much for the encouragement! I have noticed that both black and gray rat snakes overlap in the Midwest..so now you really do need find some! I am so curious, there must be a bunch of intergrades. Have you encountered any WI timber rattlesnakes? I am intrigued by the western race of this iconic species.
In my experience rat snakes along with many other species of snakes will get defensive before, during, and after release. In the snakes mind, it may think that it has temporarily escaped once released and must not let its guard down.
Yes many times, that is their main defense when they feel cornered. In my experience for such big snakes, when they do bite it is a half hearted attempt.
What a fantastic video Mark. In my opinion there is very little to compare in the animal kingdom to a den or colony of snakes. I may be wrong but I think if you have a lot of snakes in an area, it means the biodiversity is in good order. I firmly believe that snake are often the first thing to disappear from any damaged ecosystem.
Thank you! Certainly in my experience, areas with decent populations of snakes, especially larger species the surrounding habitat is rich in biodiversity!
Same black snakes in central MO ours get a little thicker but from video I can’t say 100%! Really cool though we don’t have those numbers here at least not what I’ve seen!
@@lotterhand yeah ours out about that length here the males stay pretty small, about that 4ft ish length, they also have a lot thinner bodies so sometimes you’ll mistake one for being younger then it is, but there are some pretty sizable females out there.. they gotta be going something right to get to that size!
Waterboi Fendi thanks for sharing your observations! Thankfully, there are usually plenty of rodents and birds for to them to grow to impressive sizes!
Always look for knotholes like that 3:10 that have worn away bark that is smooth from 'something' rubbing on it. I cut a tree down for one of my aunt's and noticed a knothole like that and thought to myself, "Hhhhmmm, looks like something has been going in and out of that" never once even imaging that said something was a large black rat snake...AND that it was still in it. I cut the tree up. Stuck my hand (w/ a glove.) in the hole to grab the chunk of wood to move it. Cut it up again. Stuck my hand in the hole AGAIN to throw the smaller chunk onto a pile to be pulled up closer to the house to further cut into a wood pile. Did it again to unload the wood before going inside... Everyone except one of my cousins went in the house to eat some pizza. My cousin came in moments later and said, "Annie Oakley get your gun, we found a snake" = my aunt hates snakes. I went out to see it and asked where it came from...yep, my cousin said, "That knothole!" and pointed to the very knothole I'd stuck my hand not once but thrice and had cut twice as well. Thank GOD I did not cut right into the snake. (I've seen that, btw, on youtube = a guy in my exact situation except he cut into and through the black rat. BTW, I convinced my aunt NOT to shoot the snake.)
What a story! Thanks for sharing!! Rat snakes, despite their large size can fit into small holes and crevices. I commend you for convincing your aunt not to harm the snake. I find myself in similar situations frequently. You should mention to her that many farmers relish the presence of rat snakes in their barns, because, true to their name, they prey on rats and other rodents. Rat snakes will prey on poultry eggs, but otherwise they are considered beneficial to humans.
Yes, southern Wisconsin represents black rats NW range, central New England their NE range. This den site was filmed in southern New England, where there are healthier numbers.
Enjoyed the video (and glad you didn't reveal the precise location), but I don't know why you called this area a "den" - yes, the black rat snakes were numerous in this area, but I would have thought that a "den" would have had more or a concentration of snakes (like copperhead or rattlesnake dens). Also, the word for the common urinary/rectal/genital organ (cloaca) of a snake (or any reptile or bird) is pronounced "clo - ay - kuh" (3 syllables), not "clo - ay - kee - uh".
Thanks and great question. The local population of rat snakes in this area, overwinter in the talus slide so referring to it as their hibernaculum or den, I think is accurate . Specifically, it could be defined as a denning area with several den pockets, some of which may connect to one another under the surface. I know of several timber rattlesnake and copperhead dens that also utilize expansive talus slides. Usually, the classic more concentrated hibernacula, are ledge and fallen rock dens. These dens are usually smaller in overall structure size with fewer holes/crevices for the snakes resulting in a higher concentration, but not necessarily more snakes compared to talus dens. In fact, the largest copperhead, rat snake, and racers dens I visit are located in talus slides. Ledge dens are my favorite...easier viewing, photogenic, and less punishing on the legs. Also, there is a greater risk of disturbing the habitat traversing talus, so I try to limit my visits to talus dens.
@@lotterhand Thanks for the in-depth explanation, Mark - much appreciated! That's certainly a remarkably rich black rat snake area that you've located - hope you'll keep it a secret! I have seen/caught many "obsoleta" in Pennsylvania, but never in those numbers!
@@Steevee14 It is a unique location and like all the snake denning areas I visit (even water snakes) I will only share the locations with a few entrusted like-minded friends.
@@lotterhand which turtles do it? The same week I relocated the big rat snake from my front porch, I found a snapping turtle in the backyard. It must’ve gotten under the fence but I could see it’s trodden path. It must’ve been pacing since the previous night’s last rain storm & couldn’t get back to the pond. He didn’t latch onto the stick well so I had to keep nudging him into the plastic tub then lifted him over the fence. Saw his path to the creek the next day. His defense was just to lurch & jerk suddenly to startle me. Never had a turtle do more than pee or (if it’s a snapper) try to bite with his long neck back over the shell. If you can find a stick & it latches on, dragging it is the safest.
4 months ago my son and I found an 8 foot rat snake in our basement ! He was living under the ceiling and on inspection I found several shed skins and a hole in the side boards of my house. We removed it without any issue. So today all is well except I’m hearing and seeing some mice. In retrospect I wish I would have left it alone. It was near “tame”. It’s eyes were grey ( shedding skin ) but it was totally a cool ! Amazing fact, my basement is under 24/7 surveillance. 5 cameras.. I never saw it !
Thanks for sharing! We are always trying to thwart the mice that enter our house every autumn, in fact it has gotten so bad in recent years (i.e., winning battles, but not the war lol) my wife, Emily, who is not a fan of snakes (but does appreciate them enough to be indifferent, thanks to me) has even hinted that she wouldn't mind if I released milk snakes (another rodent eating local species) into our walls to prey on the mice. In your case, the rat snake could have been there in the first place because of the rodents or a combination of shelter and food. If you find anymore, maybe give them a trial run. Snakes don't chew on wires etc or spread disease. Of course they produce waste, but not much and less overall than the rodents they are consuming. It should be noted, that the white-footed/deer mouse the most likely culprit to invade households (outside of urban centers) throughout many parts of the eastern US is the reservoir species for the Lyme bacterium. Owls, rodent eating mammals and snakes help curb the disease.
we have them in pa and most of the time you can not even find cuz they like to go in trees were they can feed on bird eggs and baby birds. but i would never harm one, its just mother nature doing its thing.
Same here in New England. After spring emergence rat snakes soon become quite arboreal, spending a big chunk of the summer hunting for prey high up in the forest canopy. Some folks may not like (as you mentioned) that they raid bird nests, but these reptiles are a vital part of the ecosystem and on the flip side they are important prey source for a host of mammals and raptors.
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Another great video Mark.
Thanks to you and your fellow herping buddies for finding these beautiful snakes for us all to enjoy, and for not over handling them in the process and stressing them out.
Thanks again mark
Neat. I didn't know there were Rat Snakes in New England. While hiking the AT in Virginia in June 2023. I took pictures of three black snakes. All three look like different types of snakes. Everybody tells me they are Rat Snakes, only they don't look like your Black Rat Snakes.
There aren't widespread in NE and are mostly restricted to CT and central MA (and an isolated population in VT). Eastern rat snakes can vary in color/pattern. Moreover, younger animals exhibit a distinct pattern, which fades to a more uniform black as they age.
What town in CT are you in this is amazing i never see any and ive lived here all my life
They live in pockets, mostly in the western part of the state.
I live in Torrington Northwest CT ive heard theres quite a few in Thomaston/ Terryville area
That's amazing. I've never thought about them "denning" before.
You find at northerly latitudes many snake species will engage in communal denning.
So glade its guys like you that people know how good they are and to not hurt them
Reptiles are my passion, but more than that, I respect the natural world and the intricate ecosystem it is part of.
Beautiful snakes. I'm so glad I found your channel!
Thank you and I am grateful for the support!
@@lotterhand 8
I’m an outdoorsman but me and snakes don’t jive. I try stay away from them and hopefully they return the favor.
How did you pick them up without getting bit? Seen a snake on the road other day and it looked like it was getting into striking pose when i neared. Is it possible to overcome fear of snakes?
You are certainly not alone, in fact sharing the same fear with the majority of people. It is possible to overcome the fear of snakes and you inquiring about it is the first step. I have personally quelled such fears with several folks over the years...mind you they are still not fan of snakes but at least don't mind their presence anymore. My suggestion is visiting a local educational reptile center or any facility that has some type of community outreach involving animal education presentation etc, and inform someone on the staff that you fear snakes and want to overcome at least some of it. Usually the will introduce you to their most passive pet snake from a distance and go from there. You will find that in a controlled situation with someone else holding the snake that they don't seem menacing or unpredictable. Within minutes you might even touch the tail of snake and quickly realize that the tactile sensation is not unpleasant, in fact far from it. Anyway, I could go on and on, something to consider if you find yourself more and more hindered from loving the outdoors because you might encounter a snake.
Lower Delaware is completely flat. Much easier terrain to find them. Sometimes, I go right out my door, and they're right in the yard. But what's the fun in that, right? Great video.
Still, it is rewarding finding the "easy" ones and to know that rat snakes can coexist alongside humans (at least the ones that don't kill them) and can be beneficial by controlling rodent populations.
Really cool video, thank you for sharing!
Thanks for watching!
Well done. Some gorgeous genetics in this population.
As a NYer, Black Rats are my favorite species to find in our reg. Gorgeous creatures.
Thank you. Encountering a six foot eastern black rat snake stretched out on the forest floor is always such a memorable natural encounter!
Great video. Amazing snakes. Fascinating area. Thanks Mark. Bruce
Thanks Bruce! It is one of my favorite areas to visit in the Northeast!
I have photos from back in the 80’s at a family reunion in Virginia. I wandered away from the house to find a old boat shed and saw a big snake in the rafters. Knocked it down caught it then thought everyone would want to see. I was wrong! They were freaking out! Screaming at me, the 12 year old to not bring that anywhere near the house! 🤣
Thanks for sharing lol! A family reunion everyone will remember I had many similar experiences growing up!
Great site, and well done footage. Black ratsnakes are certainly one of the more exciting species on the continent.
A little concerning being the amount of handling going on. Depending how many people frequent this site and how often at these vulnerable times of year for the snakes, it's a good idea to keep disturbances to an absolute minimum. "Observer effect" is a source of stress for snakes. Not handling the snakes is one way of minimizing this. Keeping such sites a secret is another. You may know you mean no harm. To them, you are all intruders.
Another wonderful video! You showcased them really well man. I've yet to find wisconsin's version of the black rat, the gray ratsnake (pretty sure it is)
Thank you so much for the encouragement! I have noticed that both black and gray rat snakes overlap in the Midwest..so now you really do need find some! I am so curious, there must be a bunch of intergrades. Have you encountered any WI timber rattlesnakes? I am intrigued by the western race of this iconic species.
@@lotterhand I have yet to encounter a timber rattlesnake or the other WI venomous snake, the Massasauga. 1 day I hope
@@WildLife_Perspective Well it can be so fun to have such bucket list! Please keep me updated!
My favorite snake! I have a famiky of them that live on my property ❤
I am envious! Such cool wildlife to have residing on your property!
That would be heaven for me, I love eastern ratsnakes!!!
It is certainly a slice of heaven for me as well! They are such intriguing reptiles!
Such a good day, awesome video as usual Mark!
Thank you! A very memorable day..equal to that of any timber outing!
What beautiful healthy animals! Great video!
Thank you as always Dawn!
At 7:00, why would the snake go into a defensive posture like that AFTER being released?
In my experience rat snakes along with many other species of snakes will get defensive before, during, and after release. In the snakes mind, it may think that it has temporarily escaped once released and must not let its guard down.
Did you ever have them hiss at you and curled up ?
Yes many times, that is their main defense when they feel cornered. In my experience for such big snakes, when they do bite it is a half hearted attempt.
Beautiful!
Fantastic video!!!
Thank you!
Wow!
Never seen one with such a dark belly i see them with more white belly
These snakes are just emerging and many are due for their shed of the year would could account for their dull underside.
What a fantastic video Mark. In my opinion there is very little to compare in the animal kingdom to a den or colony of snakes. I may be wrong but I think if you have a lot of snakes in an area, it means the biodiversity is in good order. I firmly believe that snake are often the first thing to disappear from any damaged ecosystem.
Thank you! Certainly in my experience, areas with decent populations of snakes, especially larger species the surrounding habitat is rich in biodiversity!
Here in Massachusetts they are endangered you can’t even touch them at all
I feel privileged to encounter these impressive snakes anywhere in NE. A close friend of mine is researching them in MA, which I am so envious of!
Same black snakes in central MO ours get a little thicker but from video I can’t say 100%! Really cool though we don’t have those numbers here at least not what I’ve seen!
It is an amazing place! I have seen a few big one, one exceeding 7 feet, but most are in the 4-6 foot range
@@lotterhand yeah ours out about that length here the males stay pretty small, about that 4ft ish length, they also have a lot thinner bodies so sometimes you’ll mistake one for being younger then it is, but there are some pretty sizable females out there.. they gotta be going something right to get to that size!
Waterboi Fendi thanks for sharing your observations! Thankfully, there are usually plenty of rodents and birds for to them to grow to impressive sizes!
Always look for knotholes like that 3:10 that have worn away bark that is smooth from 'something' rubbing on it.
I cut a tree down for one of my aunt's and noticed a knothole like that and thought to myself, "Hhhhmmm, looks like something has been going in and out of that" never once even imaging that said something was a large black rat snake...AND that it was still in it.
I cut the tree up. Stuck my hand (w/ a glove.) in the hole to grab the chunk of wood to move it. Cut it up again. Stuck my hand in the hole AGAIN to throw the smaller chunk onto a pile to be pulled up closer to the house to further cut into a wood pile. Did it again to unload the wood before going inside...
Everyone except one of my cousins went in the house to eat some pizza. My cousin came in moments later and said, "Annie Oakley get your gun, we found a snake" = my aunt hates snakes.
I went out to see it and asked where it came from...yep, my cousin said, "That knothole!" and pointed to the very knothole I'd stuck my hand not once but thrice and had cut twice as well.
Thank GOD I did not cut right into the snake. (I've seen that, btw, on youtube = a guy in my exact situation except he cut into and through the black rat.
BTW, I convinced my aunt NOT to shoot the snake.)
What a story! Thanks for sharing!! Rat snakes, despite their large size can fit into small holes and crevices. I commend you for convincing your aunt not to harm the snake. I find myself in similar situations frequently. You should mention to her that many farmers relish the presence of rat snakes in their barns, because, true to their name, they prey on rats and other rodents. Rat snakes will prey on poultry eggs, but otherwise they are considered beneficial to humans.
RareinWis😊
Yes, southern Wisconsin represents black rats NW range, central New England their NE range. This den site was filmed in southern New England, where there are healthier numbers.
Yesss
Enjoyed the video (and glad you didn't reveal the precise location), but I don't know why you called this area a "den" - yes, the black rat snakes were numerous in this area, but I would have thought that a "den" would have had more or a concentration of snakes (like copperhead or rattlesnake dens). Also, the word for the common urinary/rectal/genital organ (cloaca) of a snake (or any reptile or bird) is pronounced "clo - ay - kuh" (3 syllables), not "clo - ay - kee - uh".
Thanks and great question. The local population of rat snakes in this area, overwinter in the talus slide so referring to it as their hibernaculum or den, I think is accurate . Specifically, it could be defined as a denning area with several den pockets, some of which may connect to one another under the surface. I know of several timber rattlesnake and copperhead dens that also utilize expansive talus slides. Usually, the classic more concentrated hibernacula, are ledge and fallen rock dens. These dens are usually smaller in overall structure size with fewer holes/crevices for the snakes resulting in a higher concentration, but not necessarily more snakes compared to talus dens. In fact, the largest copperhead, rat snake, and racers dens I visit are located in talus slides. Ledge dens are my favorite...easier viewing, photogenic, and less punishing on the legs. Also, there is a greater risk of disturbing the habitat traversing talus, so I try to limit my visits to talus dens.
@@lotterhand Thanks for the in-depth explanation, Mark - much appreciated! That's certainly a remarkably rich black rat snake area that you've located - hope you'll keep it a secret! I have seen/caught many "obsoleta" in Pennsylvania, but never in those numbers!
@@Steevee14 It is a unique location and like all the snake denning areas I visit (even water snakes) I will only share the locations with a few entrusted like-minded friends.
I caught & released one last week & it stunk things up as a defense.
Yes, many snakes and even turtles musk as part of their defense! I've gotten used to it because I have been handling such reptiles since childhood.
@@lotterhand which turtles do it? The same week I relocated the big rat snake from my front porch, I found a snapping turtle in the backyard. It must’ve gotten under the fence but I could see it’s trodden path. It must’ve been pacing since the previous night’s last rain storm & couldn’t get back to the pond. He didn’t latch onto the stick well so I had to keep nudging him into the plastic tub then lifted him over the fence. Saw his path to the creek the next day. His defense was just to lurch & jerk suddenly to startle me. Never had a turtle do more than pee or (if it’s a snapper) try to bite with his long neck back over the shell. If you can find a stick & it latches on, dragging it is the safest.
4 months ago my son and I found an 8 foot rat snake in our basement ! He was living under the ceiling and on inspection I found several shed skins and a hole in the side boards of my house. We removed it without any issue. So today all is well except I’m hearing and seeing some mice. In retrospect I wish I would have left it alone. It was near “tame”. It’s eyes were grey ( shedding skin ) but it was totally a cool ! Amazing fact, my basement is under 24/7 surveillance. 5 cameras.. I never saw it !
Thanks for sharing! We are always trying to thwart the mice that enter our house every autumn, in fact it has gotten so bad in recent years (i.e., winning battles, but not the war lol) my wife, Emily, who is not a fan of snakes (but does appreciate them enough to be indifferent, thanks to me) has even hinted that she wouldn't mind if I released milk snakes (another rodent eating local species) into our walls to prey on the mice. In your case, the rat snake could have been there in the first place because of the rodents or a combination of shelter and food. If you find anymore, maybe give them a trial run. Snakes don't chew on wires etc or spread disease. Of course they produce waste, but not much and less overall than the rodents they are consuming. It should be noted, that the white-footed/deer mouse the most likely culprit to invade households (outside of urban centers) throughout many parts of the eastern US is the reservoir species for the Lyme bacterium. Owls, rodent eating mammals and snakes help curb the disease.
I mean, If it were truly 8' it would be a United States Record..
Can the goofy music
Yes, it detracts.
I hate snakes
Well then I hate you
I’m not going to watch because the music is too eerie. It makes this opportunity to be educated a trigger.
we have them in pa and most of the time you can not even find cuz they like to go in trees were they can feed on bird eggs and baby birds. but i would never harm one, its just mother nature doing its thing.
Same here in New England. After spring emergence rat snakes soon become quite arboreal, spending a big chunk of the summer hunting for prey high up in the forest canopy. Some folks may not like (as you mentioned) that they raid bird nests, but these reptiles are a vital part of the ecosystem and on the flip side they are important prey source for a host of mammals and raptors.