Identification: 25 to 84 in; gray brown to tan to yellowish brown background with dark brownish black blotches. The markings for very large adult rat snakes become more obscured, sometimes almost black, while juveniles are pale gray with dark brown blotches.
Habit: Rat snakes live in almost every habitat in Louisiana, but prefer a mixture of pastures, farmland and woodlands.
Distribution: This subspecie is found in the southern part of the state.
Comments: This snake is also known as the chicken snake since it is known to eat chicken eggs and baby chicks. A good climber, the rat snake will raid bird nests of eggs and baby birds and also climb into wood duck boxes. In general rat snakes are very aggressive and bite when caught. They will shake or vibrate their tail when angry, which can sound similar to a rattlesnake's buzzing when it hits dry leaves. As their name implies, rat snakes usually eat rats and mice and are non-venomous.
