How to Identify the Yellow Rat Snake

The yellow rat snake is one of the most popular snakes for people to own as pets, so finding and identifying them in the wild is common. Though they are harmless as far as venom, they are sometimes feisty biters in the wild. Identifying the yellow rat snake in the wild can be somewhat challenging because they vary in color. This is due to age, location and various other climate issues. If you know what to look for, you can identify the yellow rat snake in the wild and have a wonderful pet.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Know the regions in which you might find a yellow rat snake. The yellow rat snake is found throughout the southeastern portion of the United States from southern South Carolina to the very tip of Florida. They are quite common throughout their range, though secretive in nature.

2. Look in woodlands and around farming areas for the yellow rat snake. A farm is a perfect place to locate yellow rat snakes. As the name implies, they are notorious rat hunters. For this reason, farmers are happy to have them around for vermin control purposes.

3. Realize that the yellow rat snake is the southern version of the black rat snake found in the north. They are generally the same snake, but with different colors and locations. However, the black rat snake found in the north is often a bit larger.

4. Observe the yellow rat snake's various pigments. The yellow rat snake often does appear yellow, but may also be a light brown, or any shade in between. Some even seem to have a greenish tint to them. They also sport four lines running down the length of their bodies that are most commonly brown. As youngsters, these lines are often replaced with blotches of the same color instead.

5. Notice the yellow rat snake's powerfully built, constrictor body. The yellow rat snake is thin, but very strong. Often, this snake will grow to 5 feet or more, and the coils are used to squeeze its prey. Once the prey is dead, the yellow rat snake will swallow it head first.

6. Observe that the eyes of the yellow rat snake are often the same color as the rest of its body.

Tips & Warnings

• If you find a yellow rat snake around your home, leave it be. It is a great natural exterminator.

• Always get an informed opinion about a yellow rat snake before trying to retrieve it.

• If bitten by a yellow rat snake, make sure to get it checked out. Yellow rat snakes are not venomous, but any wild animal bite can be a problem due to possible infection.