Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I found a fairly large snakeskin in the basement last week.
There are mice down there.
This morning I took these pictures of a snake in our backyard.
The size (around 4ft) would fit the skin from the basement.
question: could this be the same snake - will a snake who has a food supply indoors (mice) venture outside for any reason or will he/she prefer the out of doors until it needs to eat.
Can anyone Identify the snake?
I live in Southern New Jersey.
thanks.
wg

The snake is a black rat snake. They are the best natural rodent control you have. The snake would certainly spend most of its time outside, but if there are rodents in your basement, he would certainly venture there for a meal. It may even spend a little down time in there. They are the largest of the rat snakes, having been known to exceed eight feet in length. They are rodent eating machines. If one happens upon a nest of mice or rats, it will eat the adult female & then all the young.

~~Greg~~

Thanks Greg - here's the next question: would more than one rat snake take up residence in the basement. I don't think I mind having a single snake down there, but I wouldn't want a "nest of vipers"
thanks,
wg

You probably won't get a "nest" of snakes unless they are over-wintering there.

That's a pretty fair assessment. Only other thing I might add is that if there is a sufficient food supply for more than one snake, there's a chance another might show up. Once the mice are gone, I can't see the snake hanging around.

~~Greg~~
Florida's Venomous Snakes

because she's quite bumpy as a gravid female would be. Speaking of black rats I happened to have the pleasure of getting to know a 22 year old black rat living at McCormicks creek state park in Indiana, she was a beauty and so sweet!