Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta)

Click on any photo to see a larger version

$Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) \nPhoto taken in Gates Co., NC at Merchants Millpond State Park on March 29, 2003.$ $Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) \nPhoto taken in Gates Co., NC at Merchants Millpond State Park on March 29, 2003.$ $Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) \nPhoto taken in Gates Co., NC at Merchants Millpond State Park on March 29, 2003.$

Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) Raiding a Bluebird box. Photo taken in Orange Co., NC on May 29, 2003 in my yard.

$Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) \nPhoto taken in Orange Co., NC on May 29, 2005.$ $Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) \nPhoto taken in Orange Co., NC on May 29, 2005.$ $Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) \nPhoto taken in Orange Co., NC on May 29, 2005.$ $Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) \nPhoto taken in Orange Co., NC on May 29, 2005.$ $Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) \nPhoto taken in Orange Co., NC on May 29, 2005.$ $Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) \nPhoto taken in Orange Co., NC on May 29, 2005.$

This is a fairly common snake known for climbing trees and raiding bird nests. The upside to this snake is that it eats rodents like mice and rats. Look at the white underside to tell it apart from the Black Racer which just has a white chin.