Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Downtown Tampa Florida, A crowd was gathering at Mc Donalds. They were trying to find something to kill a snake with. HELL NO. Not while I'm around. He's been relocated out of town. My question, what was that?

Nice going! That is what is probably the most beneficial (to man) snake in the state, the yellow ratsnake. They may grow in excess of seven feet & can consume large quantities of rodents. If one happens upon a nest, it will often eat the mother & all her young.

They are non-venomous constrictors & do well in captivity if you are so inclined.

~~Greg~~

I didn't have a snake bag with me at the time. So I let him crawl under the drivers seat. He settled right in and made the trip with no problems. When I got there, he came right out and climbed up my arm. I counldn't belive it. he let me handle him like he had been tame all his life. I believe he's young, only 4ft long. Looks really healthy.

I would guess that a four footer is probably three years old, at least, & may be old/big enough to breed. The behavior can go either way with them, usually more the other way.

~~Greg~~
Florida's Venomous Snakes

I didn't have a snake bag with me at the time. So I let him crawl under the drivers seat. He settled right in and made the trip with no problems. When I got there, he came right out and climbed up my arm.

Wow, you lucked out there. I have heard many horror stories of snakes getting out in people's cars, getting under the seat and not coming out until they dismantled the car!
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

good work with the rescue. they are a very beautiful snake. that one is much darker than most I see around here. Im over in clermont. If you decide to keep it it is a constrictor and will eat mice/rats. Ive kept quite a few in captivity and they usually adapt very well and begin feeding quickly.

I'd love to keep him but, I'm not going to risk the health of my boas. However my stepdaughter, who lives next door has taken an interest in keeping him.

Good going!!.....I hate seeing people kill totally harmless/beneficial snakes!.

Like Greg stated, that one has some more growing to do.
also, that's fairly uncommon to see a wild-caught Yellow Rat that is so "dog-tame" after being just captured!.

And yes, that is a very dark specimen from the area as well.

Here is a pic of a wild-caught Yellow Rat that I captured from neighboring Palm Bay,Florida in Brevard County.

best regards, ~Doug

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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Doug it was good to meet you the other day..
While that is a darker yellow rat than many... there are plenty that dark in Tampa. There are plenty that are lighter too and some more orange....etc...
The variability of the yellows throughout their range is something. Even in the same spot they can look very different,
The other day in n. Tampa I saw two 2.5'dors within a few yards
of each other and one was dark yellow and the other much lighter and much more orange.
:Mark

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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

Yeah Mark!, it was great meeting you at the show as well!

And yes, Yellows, like many other species of snake,even within same locales, can have an amazing variation, that's for sure!

It sure keeps things interesting!LOL

Oh,...those two Milks that I got from the show are doing real well, and "chowed down" some good sized fuzzies as I expected.

Hope you made out okay at the show!

Happy Herpin' Mark!

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"