Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wanted to share with all you rat heads... I caught a HUGE black rat yesterday, it was probably about 4 to 5 foot and it was sooo think I could not get my hand completely around his thickest midrift. Also he was very clean too, no scars or anything. What a GLORIOUS animal and was quickly released out of harms way.
Sorry no pic though, maybe I'll run across him again.....
Dave

by me and others is in an area of Bonner Springs Kansas. I don't know why that there is these black rats " monsters " there unless there is a unlimited amount of food there but that doesn't really make much sense. Could it be of some genetic trait ? Monsters from this area has been known to be found in the range of anywhere of 60" to 70". Although the largest specimen have been found in Butler county ( is there a new record since this one of 74" is rather old ), the Wyndotte county of Kansas has produced several very large animals and consistently. And let's us remember > records are only good as recorded. Think of HOW many all species of size of herps are NOT recorded by non herpers. I know of one ran over timber rattlesnake that would of set the previous record length to shame in the ( what year: second edition ) ) Amp. and Reptiles of Kansas book but was not accepted because it was in fact a run over.
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I may be old , cantankerous, crabby, and cynical, but......

I've never posted this before as I have no evidence of the snake but the fairly consistent posts on this issue made the response relevant. Several years back, I came across a DOR obsoleta on a lake entry road in Calhoun Falls, SC that I estimated was in excess of 8 feet with a girth that was equally hard to believe. The snake was curled up and visable from a very long distance on this straight entry road.
The area was rich in waterfowl and rabbits.

I also have several 60 inch plus specimens living under my porches and we routinely find obsoleta of all sizes on the porches. This leads to another tale that some here might find interesting. It will take some foundation laying.
My house has French doors opening to a rear porch. Beyond the deck railing are several very large shrubs which extend over the porch roof line, a roof that is metal over only that section. Squirrels are everywhere here (Western SC) and we typically hear them running amuck on the roofs at all hours. Enter my 400 pounds of dog divided by three. My 147 pound Anatolian shepherd misses nothing and growls at most of it. Three weeks back I was sitting in another room when I heard the growling and went to the back French doors to check what the commotion was about. An adult female squirrel (obviously nursing) was perched in the shrub in a defensive posture. Just below her a 3 1/2-4 foot, still slender-bodied black rat was climbing her way. The squirrel continued to hedge in the direction of the snake, not just refusing the snake its path but aggressively confronting it.
The glass doors provided a great look as the whole situation unfolded. It was clear that the mother squirrel was protecting nesting offspring but a later look from ground level, left me unable to find the nest.

The second chapter was just as fun. I've evidently run into a character limitation so if anybody is still interested, I'll post part II later.

Walt Deptula

obsoleta. I've got a 5' 6" lindheimeri and even at that small length they are very thick bodied. I can only imagine what a beast an eight footer must be. I wish you'd have had a camera. That would have been a great pic (dead or not).

Continue on with part deux!

Regards
John

Hi John,

No camera and in no position at the time to drive around with a ripe, dead 8 foot plus snake in my car.
The snake looked like a black python of some sort as I drove closer. The first thought I had was that it couldn't really be a black rat. Its girth was absurd and no matter what image you have in your mind, you haven't gone far enough. You would have damaged your car alignment by hitting it as sat.

Back to the squirrel. I should have left off by saying that the snake slithered back down and under the porch.
About 2 weeks later I heard a squeal, the sound a rodent makes when hit by snake. I ran out on the porch to find a baby squirrel clinging to the corner edge of the house. Seconds later it fell on/behind two garbage bags that I had earlier set on the porch to discard. Meanwhile there was unbelievable commotion right above my head on the metal roof, scraping and sliding sounds, all sorts of noise. Seconds later what appeared to be the exact same black rat as before came sliding off the roof into the top of the same bush as earlier followed by the mother squirrel. The snake had no meal and the squirrel followed it all the way back down under the porch. The squirrel had won a second time.
The nest it turned out was concealed by the metal eaves and was right at the roofs edge above where the baby was perched. The mother found the baby behind the bags and carried it back up, rolled up like a towel. Pretty interesting stuff just outside your glass doors.

Walt

"Its girth was absurd and no matter what image you have in your mind, you haven't gone far enough"

That must have been awesome.

"Seconds later what appeared to be the exact same black rat as before came sliding off the roof into the top of the same bush as earlier followed by the mother squirrel. The snake had no meal and the squirrel followed it all the way back down under the porch"

Squirrels are tough customers. I'm glad I don't have to compete with them head to head.

Cool observation. Nature in the backyard (or the porch) is always disconcerting (usually fun).

Thanks for the image and the story
John

I live around Bonner Springs, Kansas. This is great information....I have to start searching for these giants!

Yes, if you can still find the habitat. While I DO believe that some of these past finds areas are still there in B.S., look at the strip malls and the Sand Stone amphitheater for lost habitat ! Oh include the Kansas City Kansas Racing track of what use to be Wyndotte Lake ?
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I may be old , cantankerous, crabby, and cynical, but......

I know what you mean. I was so mad when they put the racetrack in and ruined all that habitat. They only use it 4 times a year!!! And the strip malls and things.....it's ridiculous. So many perfectly good buildings aren't being used, why ruin wild areas just to build some more? If there are still snakes being found around Bonner Springs, I will try there. There are still some good areas there and scattered through Wyandotte county for the time being. There are great areas around where I live in Leavenworth county out towards Tonganoxie, I've found several Kings and Rats crossing the roads, even last summer. I'd like to stay out here in snake country. lol