10/13/2026
Baby snake doo doo doo… 🎶
Central Rat Snakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis or P. obsoletus obsoletus) hatch out in late summer, so you may have seen a roughly 12 inch long snake like this recently. Hatchlings have a light gray body with dark brown blotches. A dark band runs between the eyes and there is a V-shaped marking behind their head.
This juvenile Central Rat Snake will retain this body pattern until it’s 2.5-3 feet long. It will then take on the black coloration of adults, hence some other common names you may have heard like Black Rat Snake and Black Snake. This species is semi-arboreal and one of the most common large snakes you’ll find around yards, buildings, or woodlands. If you’ve ever heard someone wonder, “How’d that snake get up there?” the snake in question is probably a Central Rat Snake. They’re harmless, non-venomous, and serve as natural pest control around the home or farm.
