Hobbies And Interests
Range
Black rat snakes are one of the most widely distributed species of rat snakes in North America and are found from New England south through Georgia. Their range extends west into Louisiana and north into southern Wisconsin. There are also isolated populations in southern Canada, near the New York border.
Habitats
Rat snakes live in a wide variety of habitats throughout their range, but are generally considered woodland snakes, according to biologists at Marshall University. However, black rat snakes are found in coastal environments where they thrive in swamp habitats. Populations in the Midwest live in open fields, while black rat snakes in the mountains can survive in rugged, rocky terrain at high elevations. In addition to natural habitats, black rat snakes are commonly found in urban areas and sometimes live in sheltered areas around homes or in public parks.
Habits
All black rat snakes are carnivorous and kill their prey by constriction. They use their excellent sense of smell to track down prey in the wild. Their diet varies based on their habitat, but is comprised almost exclusively of warm-blooded animals such as mice, rats, voles, chipmunks, squirrels, birds and rabbits. Adults occasionally climb trees in search of bird eggs, while juveniles are known to feed on lizards and frogs.
Hibernation
Black rat snakes find a secluded location in their habitat to hibernate over winter. Black rat snakes often hibernate in groups and clusters of 10 to 60 snakes in small areas in caves, under fallen trees as well as in buildings such as barns or sheds in rural locations. The snake spend several days in sunny areas warming their body to prepare for hunting in spring after spending a long, cold winter underground.