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Looks like a black rat to me.

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I was actually coming here to post a link to this ridiculous story, but you beat me to it! It never ceases to amaze me how stupid people are when it comes to snakes...just read some of the comments from "experts" claiming that this is an "African Rock Python", etc.! I live about 45 minutes from Columbia and I emailed WISTV and volunteered my services to go look around after work for gas money, if it would make the old guy feel any better. If I get a call, I'll be sure to measure the diameter of that tree the snake is climbing or photograph it with a familiar object like a soda can for perspective.

Yeah, I am never very surprised (but am always pi$$ed) at the IDIOTIC comments I see written in the media regarding snakes. It never fails!

statements like..... "he got home and was more than a bit surprised to see a 15-20 foot long intruder slithering up one of his trees"

"Philson, however, believes it is some type of python. "I've seen a rat snake and they don't get that big," said Philson.

Yes, hard, factual quotes from good ol' Mr. Philson the renowned "snake expert"..HAHAHAA!!!!!!!

I bet money the Black Ratsnake is probably quite a bit less than 8 feet, but even if it is just over the documented record of 101 inches (eight feet, five inches), it's a FAR cry from the the idiot's assessment of 15-20 feet long..LMFAO!!!!!

It reminds me of an article a few years ago with a guy holding out about a 5 foot or so Eastern Diamondback on a long tong pole right in front of the camera with cops and a car way off in the background making the size perspective grossly misrepresented to folks who don't know any better (which of course is the VAST majority of the entire snake ignorant general public)..LOL!

I think Philson and whoever did the article should be punched right in the head for being such morons personally..

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

"some are just born to troll and roll"

Agree with all of that, Doug.

Our local news media would love Philson and company - probably run the story every day for a week! They recently ran a story (into the ground) about a small (2 ft) rat snake which got into an apartment building - which they were calling a "possible rattlesnake"! The brave cavemen of the apt. complex came swiftly to the rescue and chopped the snake up.

It seems like instead of becoming more informed about the world and the animals we share it with, people (society) are going in the opposite direction - becoming more ignorant. These are NOT enlightened times IMO...
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-Toby Brock
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

Yes, I couldn't agree more. these sure are becoming sadder and sadder times, Toby. Ironically, just as you mentioned, as more and more accurate information is becoming available to EVERYONE and very common-place in more recent years with the advent of the internet, our society in general really does seem to be going in the totally opposite direction and becoming dummer and dummer regarding the natural world around them..

If you've ever seen that show "Cash Cab" before and have listened to some of the ignorant answers to some of the very basic animal questions, it is also proof of this. But of course this is especially true with reptiles (and always has been since the dawn of mankind), and unfortunately, I think it will always be that way.

It's very sad........

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

"some are just born to troll and roll"

.....here is that ridiculous story regarding the "15 foot" Eastern Diamondback....HAHAHA!!!. I'm sure a 15 foot Eastern Diamondback would probably weigh 200 lbs. or more and would fold dude's skimpy aluminum pole like a piece of paper if he even attempted to lift it off the ground. Well, that's if those spindly tongs could even get around a 15 foot Diamonback's neck..LOL!. Not to mention the little 1 inch or so fangs in the one pic would likely be over 6 inches long as well with a massive head the size of a bowling ball..

http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/15ftrattler.asp

And here's an 11 foot python said to be a "rattlesnake"...what a JOKE!!!(literally).. That's quite a "rattle" it has too I see..

http://gloriousexpressions.blogspot.com/2009/09/wow-11-ft-rattlesnake-odessa-texas.html

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

"some are just born to troll and roll"

Yep - all the info online these days, and most people glued to their "smart Phones" all the time. I guess they are shopping on ebay or Amazon or watching sitcoms - or something because they sure aren't learning anything!

From what I've seen, most people these days don't know anything and don't want to know anything about the natural world.

Yep, I've seen Cash Cab - agree on the answers a lot of people get wrong - on animals and other things. Have you seen the movie "Idiocracy" - IMO it is NOW. I know people who think shows like "Rattlesnake Republic" are informative shows! I tell them it's just a bunch of rednecks catching rattlesnakes to sell to kill at rattlesnake roundups...
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-Toby Brock
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

100% agreed!..........

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

"some are just born to troll and roll"