The Texas Rat Snake occurs throughout the eastern half of Texas and in southern Louisiana. It, along with several other large harmless snakes, is often erroneously called a "chicken snake" by misinformed people who seem to apply the term "chicken snake" to any snake that they see in or around a chicken house.
Adults of this species generally get to be 42 to 72 inches in length, with the record size being 86 inches. Their overall coloration may be somewhat variable but they generally have brownish or bluish-black blotches on a ground color of yellow or gray. Most adults have either a dark gray or black head with a contrasting white throat. In extreme northeast Texas where it intergrades with the Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta) some specimens may be totally black above with a white belly.
The Texas Rat Snake is one of the largest and most abundant snakes throughout much of its range and it seems to be the subject of a large percentage of the identification requests that we respond to each year. They feed on mice, rats and other small mammals along with nestling birds and bird eggs. They are excellent climbers and are frequently found in lofts and on the rafters of old barns, sheds and similiar out buildings and also up in oak and other trees as they search for food.
Click here to view additional photographs of a juvenile Texas Rat Snake feeding on a hummingbird.
Return to Other Non-Venomous Texas Snakes Index Page.
Return to The Venomous Snakes of Texas Home Page.
