NC Snake Pictures / Rat Snake
Elaphe obsoleta
Nonvenomous; adult size 42-103 inches (1,067 to 2,159 mm); common
Distribution key: blue=where snake is found
Rat snakes feed on rats, mice, birds, and other reptiles. The young snakes are patterned and frequently find their way into buildings. These juvenile snakes are frequently misidentified as copperheads, to which they bear only a slight resemblance. Note the juvenile pictures beneath the adult pictures. Rat Snakes vary greatly in color in different areas of North Carolina, but the two most common adult colors are black with a spotted gray and white belly, and greenish-yellow with four brown or black stripes the length of its body. More rare colors include an irridescent (reflects light) black that looks blue, and gray and black spotted.
