Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We have a snake living in our feed shed and we want to make sure we are right in saying its a young rat snake. We live in Hanover County, Virginia. It's mostly woods around us. There are 2 pictures to look at. I hope they are okay. He had just ate a mice so thats why he is just handing out.

http://www.geocities.com/thumper_baby_00/snakeinshed.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/thumper_baby_00/snakeinshed1.jpg

Yes, a young black rat. Should develope into a nice black animal.
Here's a Charles City, Va. black rat I found earlier this year.
Steve

Thank you for the verification. Should we worry about our chickens? I know not now but in the future or our barn cats.

Thanks again

Well, he had a full belly of something. The cats will be fine but an adult black rat would eat a chick and possibly even eggs....still you're better off with the snake around, IMO....

Thanks for the info. No baby chicks for a while and we have plenty of eggs so we don't mind sharing. He can have all the mice he wants.

There is definitely nothing to worry about regarding your cats. Cats do often have a negative impact on ratsnakes though. There was a property nearby with lots of ratsnakes a number of years back and the owner ended up with a dozen or so barn cats. Cats are a lot better at catching mice and rats then the snakes are and very quickly the snakes ran out of food and left. About a year or so ago the owner was moved into a retirement home and all the cats were rounded up. Now, after not seeing ratsnakes on that property for as long as that lady lived there, a couple snakes have already followed the rodents back in.