I photographed a Western Ratsnake crawling through pine needles on my property near the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. It’s the most common snake I encounter here.
Western Ratsnakes prefer dense, wooded areas. They’re known for climbing. I often find them in the cedar tree near my cabin, sometimes high in the branches.
In winter, Western Ratsnakes sometimes share hibernation dens with Copperheads and Timber Rattlesnakes. A unique behavior for a non-venomous snake.
Western Ratsnake Facts
- Length: Typically 6 feet. Record length: 8 feet 5 inches.
- Hunting style: Constrictor. They coil around prey, tightening until the prey suffocates.
- Diet: Diverse. They eat other snakes (including their own species), frogs, lizards, chipmunks, squirrels, young rabbits, young opossums, songbirds, and bird eggs. Here, I often find them searching for bird eggs.
- Mating: Late May to early June. The young hatch in fall, measuring 10-16 inches. Clutch size ranges from 5-20 eggs.
I spot most snakes by walking my property. This one stood out easily, moving through pine needles with its size and dark color catching my eye.