tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85475062570886480.post2978505795173902026..comments2023-10-16T03:30:03.697-04:00Comments on Anybody Seen My Focus?: And There It Was… Black Rat Snake (Pantherophis obsoleta)JSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05304860411928147546noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85475062570886480.post-12723109223613915942010-07-11T16:20:22.030-04:002010-07-11T16:20:22.030-04:00No Cindy. It just froze in the same position as wh...No Cindy. It just froze in the same position as when it saw me first and stayed that way, with the exception of moving it's head to watch me, until it decided it might be safe to move away and go about its business.JSKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05304860411928147546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85475062570886480.post-38682646631332631482010-07-11T15:14:36.118-04:002010-07-11T15:14:36.118-04:00When you surprised it, did it make a scooching mot...When you surprised it, did it make a scooching motion (moving forward a short distance than backward a slightly shorter distance, repeat, repeat) as if uncertain on whether to move? I like Bernard's descriptions on snake behavior while you are handling them and when to put them down.Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13378411362651806039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85475062570886480.post-71557985729606742742010-06-30T18:15:43.757-04:002010-06-30T18:15:43.757-04:00Thanks for the additional information.
I have to ...Thanks for the additional information. <br />I have to confess that I have a primal fear of snakes and I don't anticipate that I will ever voluntarily handle one. I have wrangled several snakes including Copperheads and Timber rattlesnakes so that my husband could photograph them for a herp survey.<br />None of the snakes I've wrangled have shown any aggression - just given the impression that they'd like to go about their business. I'll be contented to have encounters I had with this one especially if photos are involved :-)JSKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05304860411928147546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85475062570886480.post-81432436910045085012010-06-24T21:25:55.932-04:002010-06-24T21:25:55.932-04:00Both species do bite sometimes, and they'll mu...Both species do bite sometimes, and they'll musk on you too, but otherwise they're a pleasure to get in hand. Both are constrictors, and so they can grip you back when you pick them up. Rat snakes are maybe a little more comfortable in hand (personalities vary, and I'll put them right down if they really thrash around), and have an inquisitive vibe about them. I caught one last week that nipped lightly just once, then gripped my hand well, crawled slowly along my arm to my shoulder, stopped, looked me in the eye, and gaped - a sort of deliberate response that indicated the end of the photo session. In case you can't tell, I'm a huge fan of rat snakes :-).Bernard Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13873568923999649831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85475062570886480.post-7441672358044819382010-06-21T19:14:25.076-04:002010-06-21T19:14:25.076-04:00Thanks Bernard.
I'm updating the post with yo...Thanks Bernard. <br />I'm updating the post with your correction; I appreciate it. I don't think I'm ever going to get so up close and personal to become an expert. Glad there are some experts around to help.JSKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05304860411928147546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85475062570886480.post-21984096411594490432010-06-21T14:48:10.088-04:002010-06-21T14:48:10.088-04:00That is a beautiful snake, but it is a black rat s...That is a beautiful snake, but it is a black rat snake (Pantherophis obsoleta - the taxonomy is in flux, used to be Elaphe obsoleta, and you might also see Pantherophis alleghenensis) - same species of snake I have as my avatar. They can look alike, especially in N. GA where the kings can have a very thin, pin-stripe chain pattern. The kings look a little more cylindrical, a little shinier, and with a less distinct head. If you get them in hand, you'll note the slightly keeled scales of the rat snake, as well as its classic inverted-U body shape - slightly flattened side-to-side - that helps with its climbing habits.Bernard Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13873568923999649831noreply@blogger.com