Five Black Rat Snake defense strategies you need to know! (Eastern Rat Snake) Pantherophus sps.)

[@taramaehumphrey]

Love your videos. I've had a resident black snake living under my porch for years now. She did scare away the Carolina Wren that likes to lay her nests on the porch shelves. I'm sure she takes care of plenty of rodents for me though. Grateful to have her.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thanks for sharing your appreciation of black snakes! And glad you found my channel! Thanks for supportive words!

[@JeffreyCotle]

Awsome video. Your videos are the best. I wish you could have been my biology teacher.i love the outdoors.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Wow, thank you! I appreciate you sharing that with me very much!

[@maxhardcoregaming3877]

Just found a black snake near my front door bushes looked it up and watched your vid. I feel much more comfortable with it being there after watching your video. Thank you for making such an amazing informational video!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes. They are great to have around. Thanks for encouraging words!

[@PreachTan-gp5gw]

How interesting and you got my attention on snake topics which I didn’t mean to listen as was only looking for an image You are a good lecturer

[@natureatyourdoor]

Appreciate you Preach Tan! Check out my playlists for other topics that might interest you! I am currently working on more Switzerland episodes!

[@terrybarcelo6305]

Thanks for the video. Living in SC. Found an injure racer today. Cleaned the wounds . Does not look good. Got in a pan with a heating pad. Vets here don't treat snakes. Hope it's better in am.

[@natureatyourdoor]

I just took an injured black racer to reptile rehab at Chattanooga zoo!

[@tjodogify]

Did he make it?? 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@janelacey5734]

I found a blacksnake in my garage today. My husband didn’t think it was a black snake because it had a pattern. I googled it, and showed him that it was a black rat snake. We live in PA. The snake did the first three things you talk about. Finally it just slithered out an open door. 😊

[@natureatyourdoor]

Kudo s to you!!!! 💪💪💪

[@schmoyoho]

the channel we all need through lockdowns and beyond 🙏🐍🙏

[@natureatyourdoor]

I known! Ha! If my school had not closed...I am pretty sure my channel would never have started! Are you a student...teacher? What brings you to my channel and I am glad to have you as part of my outreach! Welcome! I love getting questions and comments!

[@juliannahealy5476]

Dad, that’s Michael Gregory is the amazing Gregory Brothers!!! ☺️

[@larryreece1427]

Great video Frank ,I live in the western mountains of virginia.we see black snakes all the time, my girlfriend picks them up, never been bitten yet ,they are a part of our family we share the spaces together every thing you said is exactly rite. Thanks Frank and God bless !

[@natureatyourdoor]

Hi Larry Reece! Appreciate your comments and example for others concerning stewardship of nature especially with these handsome snakes,

[@motherofiv]

Walked out the door of my new residence and shockingly ran into a five foot black snake. The realtor explained they are good to have around: eat rodents, keep other snakes away and are harmless. I found you to know the facts on this snake. Thank goodness!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Wow! Cool snake!,

[@jitzmaster]

So I went outside on my deck to let me dog out. I happened to look up and saw a black stick poking out of the gutter on the house. I noticed it was a snake head. It was very still and didn't move as you said. Once I saw it was a snake I screamed and it slowly went back into the gutter. Defense number 2. I think it was in the gutter for the water and to avoid the heat. I am scared it may bite my dog or I accidentally step on it. I recognized it was a black snake with a white bottom as it was a black rat snake. Immediately started researching this. Found your video. My dad always told me black snakes are aggressive.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Interesting place to see a snake! Could their have been a birds nest up there?

[@susanbeachum9179]

thanks frank. You did a great job by clearly going through the 5 possible responses a black snake might have if a human encountered it. I used to go to my Grandmom's farm every other weekend growing up and we LOVED black snakes. TODAY on a trail, I encountered a "black" snake and thought I would google around and see if I could distinguish between a black rat snake and a black racer. You helped. My snake TODAY remained motionless across the trail; about 2.5 feet long, not particularly thick, but no where near aggressive like a racer. Very little white of under head/belly apparent. Didn't have camera, or this would have been an ez id. I am going with a young black rat snake. I will be so bold as to suggest - make SHORTER videos. It's hard I know. I am a mushroom identifier for a well known club. We request 300 words only when each of us takes a turn Id- ing fungi for our monthly newsletter. We put big emphasis on the clearest photos to illustrate the species of the month. Folks can then take time to focus on what is illustrated. Very good. Thanks

[@natureatyourdoor]

Hi Susan Beachum! Thanks so much for your share, insight, positive vibe and suggestions to help improve my content! I struggle nightly to keep under ten minutes and re-evaluate what my channel is really about and what are my goals. Obviously, it's more than just ID...and there are better places to go strictly for ID...i think of myself more a "science story teller" and try to break down science in everyday terms for non-science folk....while introducing and defining new words! I keep trying to keep it short and on point and CONTENT RICH. Great ID and rich fact website for herps is : VIRGINIA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY! Check them out...btw...i would love it ...if you had time if you checked out my recent videos on plants I have done in last month. Let me know if you think I have improved content focus and delivery on these compared to this video...which was just a few month into my journey in this strange new world. I have several "mushroom" videos too...and I am always interested in learning more of course. What is your fungi site? Group?

[@kericwilson4228]

Very interesting and informative!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thanks K Eric Wilson! I really enjoyed working with this particular wild snake...he was so cooperative and easy going with me! Ha!

[@coltonthompson958]

Thank you sir you are helping me teach some people that don't know anything about snakes looked at several other channels but yours was straight to the point

[@natureatyourdoor]

Hi Colton! Thanks so much! yes... that is the goal on my channel! Apreciate you support!

[@donaldshimkus539]

Great video Frank. It's funny that I knew all those things but didn't realize I knew them. I grew up in a somewhat rural area in N.J. back in the early 60s and loved animals, especially reptiles. I learned about snakes and enjoyed a few as short-term pets. I live in N.C. now and enjoy people's reactions when they see me handle a black snake. I really work at convincing people that black snakes are harmless and very beneficial and shouldn't be killed. Thankfully it sometimes works. Thanks for your videos and I am now subscribing.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Great to here your story Donald. I actually grew up in Summit New Jersey and fell in love with nature and bio roaming the Watchung reservation just out my backyard!

[@donaldshimkus539]

@@natureatyourdoor hey neighbor. Martinsville and Warren Twsp. It was hysterical in the 70s when someone discovered there were copperhead snakes in N.J. We knew this when we were little kids.

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@donaldshimkus539 👍😜😃

[@michaelratliff9449]

To bad people automatically want to kill the snake's...everytime you see one they want to get away from you..I know they live all around me, I found an 11 ft. Racer ran over by a car close to my house a few years ago, longest snake I ever saw...I have killed 2 Copperheads here, one bit my Chow dog in the face..but he was fine after a few days...I skinned that one, made a real nice hatband!

[@0_Hela]

Love your video ❤ ty

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thanks for watching and taking time to support my channel!

[@danbev8542]

Great and informative video! We’ve had black snakes on our rural Maryland property for over 30 years. Once, many years ago, we came home to very spooked cats. Looking around, we found a black snake “treed” in a corner of our brick chimney. DH helped the poor thing down & carried him/her to the woods. None of our cats have been the same since…over several generations! Our current, most adventurous kitty, (we’ve seen her interacting with deer), won’t walk across the front porch in warm weather! I have to pick her up & carry her to the grass.

[@natureatyourdoor]

LOl! Great story! oh my gosh! Thanks for making me smile and shareing your story with me and viewers! :-)

[@jamesturley8756]

I have a couple of black snakes who live on my property. One of them, the larger one, loves my patio and will lay right next to me during that day. Almost everyday he will either sit next to my chair or sit by my front door. Have you seen a wild snake do this?

[@natureatyourdoor]

James Turley! You ARE the snake whisperer! No I have never heard that ...at least not that intimately! That is really cool. Some reptiles and amphibs are very territorial...so the snake has its place! I have heard that people will have a blacksnake they see regularly in their barn. I too find it very interesting that some wild snake can suddenly be very comfortable and feel no threat being handled....like the black snake in my snake climbing video. The eastern ring neck that I had for a day...seemed NOT to want to leave my hand once he settled! Thanks for commenting...i look forward to hearing from you again!

[@Kimberly.vandermeid]

I have...I have two now that stay in and out of my garage every summer for several years. They don’t pat me any attention at all and come very close to me. I sit in my garage a lot and smoke as I do not smoke in my house. I love to watch them.

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@Kimberly.vandermeid that is really cool! If you can take photos and share them with me on my Instagram account or Facebook page...on "visitor posts!" Thanks for commenting and sharing YOUR experience!

[@papafish186]

I have a pair of toads that live in A drain pipe and the smaller one will stand close with no fear of me on my front porch

[@michaelratliff9449]

I have had them growl and hiss at me too. Occasionally, a few times year I find one in my garage, I believe it's the same one..I'm cool with it, he's mellow...but my German GF freaks out when she sees him, so I take him into the woods, and drop him off, but he always comes back..Lol!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Tell me about YOUR black snake encounters! What behaviors have YOU observed! Please share with ME!

[@lmg1953]

Black rat snake in striking position kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGXUqI2IpJJ-rZY Thanks for your video. It was excellent.

[@Lampropeltis]

Good video

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thank you! I appreciate you watching! Have you seen my snake playlist? I think you might like it!

[@barbaraseay5860]

I have found black rat snakes in my basement, obviously after mice. Twice they have come into my home. One came up from the basement steps, another came up through a loose furnace vent. I don't bother them as I know they are beneficial, but the one that came up through the furnace vent and into my bedroom I had to dispatch it as I had no one to help me and I couldn't let it stay loose in my home. Thanks for your video.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Oh no...on the snake in your bedroom! 😥

[@rhino159]

Great class thank you Frank!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha! Thank you! Glad to have you in my new global classroom!

[@farnorthhomested844]

you are spot on about these snakes. i have picked them up numerous times and never been bit. also ive never got the smell from them that you are talking about. garter snakes are another thing, they seem to always stink when you pick them up.

[@natureatyourdoor]

I just took a wild 5 footer of a friends house.,no musk...no fuss...no bitecompletelydocile...see episode "5 reasons not to fear or kill,a black snake

[@sunnysmiles8211]

I absolutely loved your video and learned a lot!! Just recently I found a 3 foot beautiful Eastern garter snake in my backyard and I swear it’s head was also becoming triangular, So I was at first confused about what type of snake it was. This explains it well!!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Awesome! Did you see my recent garter snake episode.

[@sunnysmiles8211]

@@natureatyourdoor no I will find it and watch it ! Thanks 😊

[@yomuno2511]

I sighted a ~4' rat snake in my home (living area) about a month ago and for about a week later I could hear it crawling over the blown insulation in the attic daily. I haven't heard/seen anything the last couple of weeks. I hope it has moved out. However, 1. How can I humanly trap/catch it inside my home to release (miles away 😂) and 2. Can the blown fiberglass insulation harm the snake?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Very good question about fiberglass...I would think NOT healthy. Unfortunately, I am not aware of any snake "traps"!

[@bikejoan]

Love these videos, thank you for making them. Could you do a video on racer snakes? I can’t tell if we have a black snake or a racer in our yard.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Here ya go! images.app.goo.gl/fDqSKmPWQBjGP2Sw6

[@natureatyourdoor]

Check out my snake playlist for more! Glad you enjoy my shares!

[@tomaszrasolomampionona5609]

Great channel, thanks for the upload

[@natureatyourdoor]

Hey! Thank you Tomaz! Appreciate your comment very much!!!

[@Jungleroomreptiles]

Awesome, Thanks

[@natureatyourdoor]

You are welcome Jungle Room!

[@Hell-yeah420.69]

Hello again! Youre totally right the snake fled! It seemed like it was gonna bite me but it just hissed and took off. Beautiful animal. Still dont wanna run into him again xD

[@natureatyourdoor]

Lololol! Ha! Like I said fun to observe but ain't nobody like to be surprised!

[@WisdombyExperience]

I love snakes! Great video.

[@natureatyourdoor]

yes Stacy. I am glad to hear that .... and Black Snakes I think are my favorite! Have you seen my whole series on Black snakes?

[@WisdombyExperience]

@@natureatyourdoor it’s in my que to watch. Figured I’d watch all your stuff eventually. Naturally curious is the bane of my existence.

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@WisdombyExperience lol...i have enough videos now you can get a bottle of wine...cheese and crackers..a comforter ..and BINGE WATCH! Lololol!

[@WisdombyExperience]

@@natureatyourdoor haha. I don’t drink wine, but the rest is right in my wheelhouse. Something to listen to while I needle felt.

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@WisdombyExperience perfect! 😉

[@tydavis3407]

I’m so happy that you made a video showing people that these little guy’s will do so many things to avoid people. It really makes me mad that most people will kill a snake rather than relocate them or leave them alone. Great video keep the great content coming.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Hi Ty Davis. Thanks for kind words and support. And yes...cant agree with you more!

[@prudencezappa8598]

Brilliant thanks for all the info👍

[@natureatyourdoor]

Prudence Zappa. Hi! And wow. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me! Gosh...in this moment I find your comment one of the most rewarding yet! Comments like yours is what gives me the enthusiasm you see and why I am smiling making video because I know you are listening! Thank YOU!

[@wiredwilderness4431]

Great video! I just started making herping videos myself. I love how they mimic a rattlesnake with their tail. I just made a video of an eastern milksnake doing the same thing. I am always interested on how they have the instinct on how to do that.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes...very cool. I had a social media network friend ask about their crinkleling or kinking behavior. My snake did not demonstrate this behavior to me...but I have seen it in snakes lying out in the road. Any thoughts on this?

[@natureatyourdoor]

subscribed by the way!! :-) looking forward to following YOUR adventure!

[@lmg1953]

Black rat snake in striking position kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGXUqI2IpJJ-rZY

[@tommybarrios3307]

New subscriber, good video, looking forward to seeing more . Thanks..

[@natureatyourdoor]

Awesome Tommy Barrios! Thank you! Great to have you apart of our learning community! I rescued a black snake near fatally entangled in bird netting..working on new episodes with this guy ...send me Q s anytime!

[@tommybarrios3307]

@@natureatyourdoor Your welcome. I'll surely check in as you continue with your videos. The woods behind you remind me of the woods back home in New Hampshire. Seen any fisher cats in your area? N.H. Fish and Game reintroduced them back into the mountains a few years back. I was wondering if anyone has seen any. I'm in Southern Pa. none around here. Till next time.

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@tommybarrios3307 nope not here. Heading your way in a couplo weeks in my hand made chevy cargo van build to camper van! Want to stop in New Hampshire near AT ..got a favorite lake side spot to camp? I am at 480 miles in section hiking on and off VA at .

[@tommybarrios3307]

@@natureatyourdoor Travel safe and enjoy.

[@KatieCorona-q3s]

Great video/information! The neighbor had one in her garage this morning that we helped relocate. We are just curious why its body is wavy?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Good question! I have another video that shows and explains why they kink up. In short...to look like a gnarly stick to predators in the air when they lay out in sun in the open to warm up!

[@nadwajohnson]

Thank you for this great video. We moved to a new house & saw two black snakes. I am terrified of snakes & now it has become clear to me that I need to coexist with them if I ever want to be in my backyard. This video is amazing and it made me realize how wonderful these creatures are. If you have any tips to help me overcome my fear of snakes that would be very useful. I don't want to handle them but I simply don't want to freak out & scream SOS the next time I see them in my backyard

[@natureatyourdoor]

Many people have an inner fear of snakes! And even seeing an image of one can illicit chills! I think perhaps, as you were already suggesting, expect to see a snake as part of the outdoor diversity of the environment.

[@thatrogersmith]

Had a bluebird nest with five eggs (to start). One egg would disappear daily, so we knew it was the work of a snake. Last day we opened the box there was no egg…instead there was a lethargic baby black snake curled up taking a nap. Wasn’t too thrilled about that but snakes are great to have around for pest control. Relocated him to the other end of our small property and removed the box.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Sorry about your bluebirds but appreciate your nature stewardship!

[@lcook0825]

Great video. Very informative.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thank you!

[@ast-og-losta]

Please do a video on Black Racers. I have a huge one on my property.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Its on my short list..i want to compare contrast with rat snakes

[@shadowlazers]

I found one of these laying in the street I thought it was dead maybe it was defense mechanism but is I was able to catch it what should I do just let it go it seems very slow

[@natureatyourdoor]

I wonder if he might have been run over and has internal injuries. Alternatively, he may have been laying on the road to warm his body T and when he warms up he will be more active. Either way yes...best to return him somewhere close to where you found him away from the road.

[@shadowlazers]

After watching your video again i realized they just seem to be very slow snakes in general. He seems more active today it's a little warmer outside so we'll do a put back where I got them near the woods

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@shadowlazers great nature stewardship shadowlazers! That is what I do..enjoy them...photo them...interact with them for a day or too and release them back where I found them feeling priveldged! Episode on a garter snake I found yesterday coming soon. Released back where found em today!

[@jrpeet]

Really interesting

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thank you James!

[@kevinstickles6309]

Good video. Would you please link referenced websites in the description?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Will do Kevin!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Done! Websites linked...let me know if you think I left anything out or have other specific questions I might try to answer! The VA herp site is really well done!

[@gregj831]

Very good informative video about the Black Rat. I had a barn behind my house and the barn backed up into prime SW Ohio Black Rat country (Wooded Hills). The barn though, became infested with mice when we began storing a lot of stuff in it and soon enough, here came the Black Rat Snakes. The snakes were given complete freedom to roam the property at will with many basically taking up permanent residence and we'd see them sunning themselves everywhere. My kids and I really miss them! I was very concerned about the snake's safety because the new owner's wife would literally go into shock at the thought of snakes on her property. That really bothered me!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Wow! What a great black rat snake haven. Hope that lady knows that if black snakes are occupying that niche...very very unlikely that any other snakes like rattlers or copperheads will be there. Black Snakes ARE your friend whether you are scared of snakes or not!

[@gregj831]

@@natureatyourdoor Thanks for feedback! I tried convincing her about Black Rat Snakes being "terrific mousers" but I think it fell on deaf ears? We also quite a few Garters on the property. One large female took up permanent residence near my air conditioning unit. I was captivated by this as I did not know Garters would ever hang around the same spot like that? She'd sun herself and then slither into a nearby brush pile or into our ornamental Lillys. I never used any poisons on my lawn and so there were millions of juicy earthworms in my yard and so she had a buffet outside her doorstep. She was a beautiful green garter!

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@gregj831 I just finished shooting a garter snake episode today! This time at my daughter's house in the hudson Valley, NY. Many species of amphibians and reptiles are remarkably territorial!

[@gregj831]

@@natureatyourdoor Thanks! Absolutely!

[@justinciallella4724]

I picked one up yesterday and moved it out of my garden fence. I only moved it because it could no longer get through the fence. It had dispatched a young rabbit in the garden and could no longer fit through the chicken wire.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Oh no! That is kinda funny! Thank you for your nature stewardship!

[@jameshelton2161]

I'm curious of what a bite from a black snake of that size feel like ?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Not much really...they don't have muscles to grind or chew food ..they kill prey by constriction ..so really not much to a bite at all. Surprise and reflex is the issue.

[@annettesoller3366]

I live in the country in Pa. We have lived here 22 years, and rarely ever saw a snake near our house. We do however get mice inside our bathroom cupboard, as access from our hot water tank is through there. The last few evevings, i had been hearing "mice" in the walls , in summer ! I put some traps in, and caught a mole, about 3 mice, then heard trap snap again, and it was a SNAKE ! IN MY BATHROOM CUPBOARD! I slammed the door and screamed...my husband came , and with flashlight looked everywhere. he said it left. it was scared. I added a few glue traps within minutes of this experience. And reset the snap traps. within minutes, we heard LOTS of noise, including snap trap. My husband went in alone and shut the door. Lots more noises..then he came out with a 4 to 5 foot SNAKE!. He had a heck of a time pulling it out, it was trying to flee by going around the corner in the cupboard which leads under the bath tub. It wasn"t a black snake..we do not know what it was. It shook him up a bit too, he ran up to the woods to throw it /release it. He said it had brownish tint, really light diamond patterns all over. It tried biting him. I am terrified their are more IN MY HOUSE. I cant sleep, its hard to sit on the toilet after watching a few videos..we live in a mobile home. It had a house roof put over the trailor roof. An addition of 1 room with a crawl space added under it, where the well tank is. We have a septic tank. How do you think it may have come in, and how can i know for sure if their are any more, /any babies ?? UGHHH! and how can i keep it from happening again? Thank you..

[@natureatyourdoor]

Oh my gosh. The snakes are coming in the same way the mice are. I lived in a 12 x 65 trailer for 3 years. i would suggest looking at all the places a pipe comes up through the floor. Get some brass or copper steel wool and expanding spray foam like great stuff. Use them in combination around every opening you can find and around every opening.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Check out my latest video on,black snakes...why you should not kill blacks snakes...i discuss the mice and snake thing.

[@bludodge2008]

Most wicked bite I’ve had was from a pregnant garter! In her defense, I may have unintentionally been a little rough. She ended up having 17 babies. I eventually put her and the babies right back where I got her and appreciated her for the experience.

[@natureatyourdoor]

My experience with garter snakes is the same...notorious biters! How cool about the babies!!! fascinating experience!!!

[@mosbornio8249]

Will a harmless black snake flee in to the pond or is that a different snake we have on our property?

[@natureatyourdoor]

More likely a black racer...they seem to hang around more....not a water snake?

[@mosbornio8249]

@@natureatyourdoor thank you. It looks like the one in your video but folks tell me since it is hanging around the pond it might be a water moccasin. Too fast for me to get a picture.

[@WilliamSchmidt-w2y]

Thanks for the difference between racers and rat snakes. They have some of the same habits. Both will escape into bushes or trees.

[@natureatyourdoor]

You are welcome...often mixed up for good reason, but many don't even realize there are two species of "black snakes"!

[@WilliamSchmidt-w2y]

You got me to do some research. I live in NY. We have Racers but no Black Rat snakes... But I have seen Mountain Lions (2 in the last 45 years) in western Massachusetts!

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@WilliamSchmidt-w2y very cool about the mountain lions. Several recently confirmed in Tennessee

[@WilliamSchmidt-w2y]

@@natureatyourdoor That's great to hear! Black bears are definitely more common too.

[@natureatyourdoor]

@user-ff9xi6vf8l we have almost daily fb posts in the news feed : black bear in the backyard...really big growth in bear population here!

[@davidannaking7829]

Do they live in the ground? Will they eat a small bird sitting on a nest?

[@natureatyourdoor]

They are really an arboreal species. They spend lots of time in trees. Yes..they often go up trees to get birds and eggs. check out my black snake episodes on what they can climb..and 5 things everyone should know about black snakes

[@mariachrisrobles7562]

hello, I have lots of black snakes in my attic and it makes me uneasy. no-one wants o hunt them down, I have put all kinds of things and they won't get out.

[@natureatyourdoor]

That is a unique problem! I don't know what to say.

[@cookingwithconniemorewohlf4538]

Thanks, Frank. This was so interesting! I learned a lot. We've had black snakes in our yard and I'm fine with that because they help reduce the mouse population. I always enjoy your videos.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thank you Connie! So wonderful to find you here! And share a comment with me! Love to interact with all my viewers. I am humbled and honored to know you are a subscriber.

[@prudencezappa8598]

I have one I keep running into my shed. Now i am a bit jumpy...at everything at the moment...he did warn me I know he is harmless. But I am still quite freaked...

[@Frog_Dogger]

I just encountered one of these today next to the road. It was neat watching the snake rattle its non-rattle tail and making hissing noises. Oddly enough it didn't play dead. I would've picked him up and put him in the nearby forest so he didn't have to cross the road but I didn't have the time. I hope that snake is ok.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha...very cool you got to observe that first hand Frog Dogger! I'd lay odds he took off after you left! Dont worry! Thanks for sharing here with me and our learning community!

[@tonyhiggins8707]

Love the information and presentation! Curious about two things. I have heard stories of "Black Racer" that will come straight towards a human. Do you suppose that could be an intimidation method? Also I once found a complete shed from what I figure had to be a black snake underneath a house. It had shed skin from the tip of its tail to it's nose and I was amazed not only was it 6 feet long but it had shed skin perfectly all the way over it's eyes. How is that possible?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Good questions.... "Naturalists" will tell me that the human inadvertently got between the snake and where it wanted to flee to hide...i have a friend who swears that while shrinking bobwire fences in Texas the king snakes would come after them and they would run...are Naturalists trying to soften this behavior to protect snakes from wanton killing by humans...not sure the actual,"science" here...yes..awesome to find full intact shed ..the eye lens can be used like a magnifying glass! Fascinating...how is it done....snake opens mouth and slides out of skin from there...!

[@maryjogordon6649]

Afraid of any snake! Do have a black snake in my back yard. He stays in a flower bed around a drake elm tree. I walk around bare footed. I also have a 9 lb Maltese/yorkie . Is my dog n danger? Thank you for your help.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Your dog is okay!

[@jasonwolfe9892]

My daughters and I like to go out looking for snakes. Never found a rat snake but I’d like to. Live in WNY and I know we are within there range. Coolest snake we found are eastern milk snakes but primarily garter and eastern water snakes. Once in awhile dekays and ring necks. Would also love to see a timber rattler.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Great to hear you are engaing your daughters in this way. Ha... only me and you would want to see a timber rattler. I had a great experience photoing one I found on AT that I surely would have step on were it not "humming" in the center of a very narrow section of trail! Love the milk snakes too. Black snakes truly my favorite and so common in my range...hence the number of black snake videos! Great to hear form you ...I hope you will check out my amphibian and reptile playlist! I am sure i have more videos you will enjoy. I look forward to hearing from you again.

[@frankhargrave1847]

Try Maryland. I see them every year in my yard. The neighbors do too. The guy across the street found one in his mailbox; I'm not comfortable around snakes so that type of surprise probably would've gave me a heart attack 😅

[@psucsi4145]

I ride a number of bike rail trails (PA) and often come across snakes and it has amused me how garter snakes have such nasty temperaments. Black snakes are probably one of the calmest, I usually urge them off the trail for their safety if it is a busy day. I recently came across a green snake, which I had not seen one in years, and it also had an attitude. Maybe it is a size thing.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Hi Randy...i too have loved rails to trails and met the biggest black snake of my life on The New River Trail! Put that trail on your list. Easily 7 feet long and very laid back. I share same experience with garter snakes as you! Meaner then water snakes! Ha!

[@jimmyfones448]

I have a rat snake or two living in my yard. But one day a saw a very large tan snake out by my boat early in the morning, I was hooking up my boat to go fishing and got very close before I saw it. It quickly moved away holding its head up high but moving away. U think 🤔 it was a corn snake, but it had no pattern on its body just very bright resist tan. I wish I had a picture. It didn't seem to have a triangle type head so I just let it go as I do my black or rat snakes.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Hi! Thanks for sharing with our community of learners and observers. I am leaning more toward Dekay's Snake or Brown Snake. Another possibility..is red-bellied water snake. Check range maps for these snakes they can vary by county! For example red-bellied snake only in 2 or 3 counties in far southeastern corner of VA. What state/region do you live?

[@jh4wktowmissile16]

Probably a coachwhip of you are down south

[@rachaeldangelo1337]

Bull or gopher snake possibly

[@bubbleshell27]

I live in WNC. We have a BEAUTIFUL shiny black snake that frequents the area around our home. We've tried to determine exactly what kind of black snake this is, and between another comparison video and yours, I believe it is a black rat snake. My daughter surprised it under a bush one day and it performed defense #4 to my daughter's great delight (she's an environmental biology major.) Our biggest experience with it was on a mulch-covered sunny hill behind our home. It hung out there for several days, saw it coiled up around several holes, sliding in and out of the mulch. It's at least 6 feet long. I believe it might have been hunting and/or maybe laying eggs? We've been avoiding the mulch hill since, watching for any baby snakes to appear. What do you think it was doing?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thanks for sharing YOUR story! Certainly sounds like a female. And yes..mulch piles favorite place to lay eggs!!! Keep me posted!

[@angelsaywhat]

I go for a run almost everyday and yesterday had my first encounter with one of these. I’m currently trying to figure out if I can still run this path 😂

[@natureatyourdoor]

Lol! Sure! You ll be fine! 😁

[@josevazquezsr.6966]

I’m a city boy and don’t know anything about snakes I move to the Poconos and encountered a huge snake about five feet long I was scared stiff but I like animals I didn’t harm it but I gave it a lot of respect and ran to the house. I googled it and it was a black snake.

[@natureatyourdoor]

🙂👍

[@johnpulwers680]

That snake isn't a Black Racer?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Nope...see my Black racer video where I explain subtle differences and how to tell them apart! kzbin.info/www/bejne/moTFpKmJftqXaNUsi=1lljWb6DxBnI97PC

[@ohgary]

I inherited some pythons in the 1990s. One was a rock python and very grumpy. She did not like to be handled at all. Along with the striking and fleeing, she discharged that smelly fluid. It is also very slippery and made it almost impossible to hold on to her.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ack! Not a very fun pet! 😢

[@ohgary]

@@natureatyourdoor these animals were presented to me as a money making scheme. In those days a Burmese python hatchling could fetch $150. All I had to do was furnish space for their cages. One pair (both albino) were proven fecund, having previously produced at least one clutch of eggs. Not knowing any better, I used pine shavings as bedding. All the snakes perished excep the big male Burmese. There was a monthly reptile show in the state capital so we packed up the big snake and took him there to sell. Turns out, whereas hatchling pythons are worth $150, the bigger the snake gets the less it is worth. As I recall we had to pay some guy $50 to take him off our hands! Thus ended my days as a python rancher.

[@BigNorseWolf]

Usually these are docile. At the garbage dump in the park they'd pick up 6 pack rings, and held still to be picked up and have the ring cut off. I have had one rear up and vibrate his tail. Did NOT know they could do that. Usually I put them over my back across the shoulders. I guess its warm, sturdy, and tree like so they think they're safe.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes they really are pretty laid back snakes. Great stewardship story and another example of dangers of plastics especially six pack rings. Thanks for sharing and contributing here to our learning community! I look forward to hearing more from you!

[@johnpulwers680]

3 kinds of black snakes? RAT, King, and Racer??

[@natureatyourdoor]

True..I should clarify. Correct Black Racer Black rat snake Black colored king snake. All 3 different species I fell into our local culture nomenclature were Pantherophis allegheniesis is referred commonly as "the Black snake" short for Black Rat Snake.

[@lisadecker1081]

Thanks for all the info our snake lives in our little wood shed and he's a black snake so he lives .... We will ignore him :)

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes! Consider yourself lucky to have him!

[@barbarahoppes3744]

Can a black rat snake be as fat as my arm? Or is it a racer..was on my deck and I am terrorized!!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Sounds like a black snake!

[@DMyers-kz6gz]

I had someone bring me a snake that they said was a python that was in someone's yard. He caught it and put it in a box inside a box. It was put in the bed of my truck until I got off work. When I got home, it had gotten out of the box, but I could tell it was no python. I caught it and placed it in a container that it couldn't escape from. I was not sure what it was, but I knew it wasn't venomous. I took it to a local pet shop and was told it was a black rat snake. I brought it back home and turned it loose in an overgrown lot next to my house. It was roughly 6 feet long.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Beautiful snake. Now that I have a channel ..i can't wait to come across a 6 or 7 footer!

[@WilliamSchmidt-w2y]

I never mind when I get bitten a snake (none venomous). They are just trying to protect themselves. I always try not to hurt their teeth.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Great attitude! Thanks for share!

[@WilliamSchmidt-w2y]

@@natureatyourdoor I try my best to avoid musking!

[@jcodym13]

a snake as small and harmless as the Garter Snake actually turning out to be extremely aggressive is absolutely hilarious.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Jcodym13 ha! Yes! I have had same experience. I had a 12 inch garter snake bite my sneaker repeatedly! I thought exactly the same thing! Funniest thing I ever saw! Too cute!

[@jcodym13]

@@natureatyourdoor I guess you could say they're the Chihuahuas of the US snake world

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@jcodym13 they are! Ha! Glad we share the same sense of humor!

[@skeeter197140]

1. Bite 2. Bite again. 3. Musk 4. Bite again. 5. Musk, and maybe bite again. I kid. I had an awesome encounter this past summer. There was a rather large (5-6 ft.) specimen in the front yard. I expected the usual, maybe get some smelly stuff on me, maybe take a bite or two, but for some reason, it was very calm. I handled it for a good twenty minutes, and then relocated it into the woods across the street from me. I was very thankful for that experience. So many people hate these creatures, some having a "kill it first, then figure out what species it was", kind of mentality. Shame. Beautiful animals.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Hi Skeeter ..thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with our learning community. I agree...it is fascinating when one can engage and interact like that hands on with a completely "wild" animal. Still so many see snake. Kill snake. Sad.

[@natureatyourdoor]

And yes...they have unique beauty!

[@kellyfalletta1949]

Wow. Totally enjoyed video. Sad to say, I’ve probably killed rat snakes because of the 4th defense mechanism, thinking a cottonmouth. Only because I don’t want dogs at risk with venomous snake. Will figure out other options to protect my fur babies before killing a black snake. If you do have way to tell difference at a glance from rat snakes in defense (triangle head) and the cottonmouth, love to know.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Hi Kelly! Try checking out this website: www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/venomous-look-a-likes/cottonmouth-look-a-likes/cottonmouth.html It won't help to say a black snake doesn't look like a cotton mouth...but if you look here...and make a mental image of the color patterns maybe that will help. Keeping Black Snakes around effect presence of other snake sps best on principles of niche and competition! I appreciate your concern with your dogs.

[@joycejohnson7189]

Last year we had a black snake get tangled in bird netting after eating a meal. I held it while my husband cut the netting off. I was amazed at how strong it was and read that they are constrictors. I was worried about getting bitten when I released it but when I leaned over to place it on the ground it lept from my hands and into our fig bush. We have not seen it since and have mice this fall. Once my Daddy and I cut slips from a neighbor's sweet potato field. As Daddy lead the way a king snake came out and began following him. When I said, "Don't look now but there is a snake behind you." Potato slips flew into the air and Daddy was gone. The snake then went into the bushes. I found Daddy still shaking with a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other one.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Great stories! Thanks for sharing! 🙂😍

[@sandyrea1444]

Why would a black snake get into your car and hide do they lay eggs in your car this snake got in my car in a Saturday afternoon and could not find it until Monday afternoon when we got into the car with the air conditioner running came out went across my leg into the back seat

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha! No way! I gave never had a snake get in my car but I have had to have mice nests removed several times...one got got chopped up in air circulation fan! My dogs indicated location. So...it might be the snake smelled odor of mice in your car .

[@cayennenaturetrails8953]

I live with a Black Snake somewhere in my house!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No mice seen

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha! That's great! 🤔😄

[@cayennenaturetrails8953]

😅@@natureatyourdoor

[@therandomyoutuber1014]

Me and my sisters, my sisters friend and my friend found a juvenile black snake and it fleed from us

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha! Yes ...they can be very fast!

[@SharonGrandel]

I just found 6 southern ring-necked snake caught on a glue trap in my garage

[@natureatyourdoor]

Oh no!

[@michelle3583]

Funny I've been horrified of snakes my entire life couldnt even watch them on video in a movie etc or id have nightmares its that bad lol but this year for whatever reason i have been watching these videos trying to learn i guess idk lol I guess also it may b a good thing to understand what kind of snake u may encounter and I love to fish and camp and hike alot so lol

[@natureatyourdoor]

Proud of you Michelle to be proactive on over coming your fears! I have a number of people tell me that my videos have helped them over come snake phobias! For sure, it is healthy to keep distance from Copperheads and rattlesnakes! I always thought that learning more is a good thing! I have some new snake related videos coming up in July with similar cooperative snakes that are at ease being handled! Thanks for sharing here with our learning community!

[@williamsporing1500]

I’m in Kentucky and have rat snakes in my shed and property. They are beautiful, beneficial and very mellow. I see copperheads too. I leave them alone and they leave me alone. Snakes are just trying to earn a living like the rest of us, so leave them alone

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha! Yes...just earning a living! I would love to film a copperhead! Kuddos to your positive attitudes on snakes...i just completed a snake rescue,..then featured a black snake in a new episode on snake tongues and why they are forked...coming in July my friend! Thanks for taking time to comment and share!

[@ssbrothers1213]

Indian Hindi film actor Anupam kher and you are same, twin?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha! Yes?

[@TD402dd]

I grew up with the Black Racer, but we just called them black snakes because they were plentiful.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Black Racer compared to black snake side by side coming soon! 😉

[@the.tricky.outdoorsman]

Actually it is Obsoletus if memory serves me. That was the original name.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Your memory serves you well. Here is taxonomy from Virginia Herpetological website: Systematics: Originally described as Coluber obsoletus by Thomas Say in 1823 from a specimen collected at "Isle au Vache to Council Bluffs on the Missouri River." Schmidt (1953) restricted the type locality to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Dunn (1915a) was the first to use the genus Elaphe for this species but spelled the species obsoletus. In 1836, Holbrook described Coluber alleghaniensis from a specimen found "on the summit of the Blue Ridge in Virginia." This specimen and others from New York and the Carolina mountains were the first Eastern Ratsnakes he saw that had weakly keeled scales. The name was later considered a junior synonym of E. obsoletus (= obsoleta) by Cope (1900). Callopeltis obsoletus was used for this species by Hay (1902), following Lonnberg (1894). Based on the congruence of morphological (Burbrink, 2001, Herpetol. Monogr. 15: 1-53) and mitochondrial data (Burbrink et al., 2000, Evolution 54: 2107-2118), Burbrink divided P. obsoletus into three species (P. alleghaniensis, P. obsoletus and P. spiloides) with no subspecies. P. alleghaniensis is the only species found in Virginia.

[@natureatyourdoor]

The specimen I found...in Floyd County Virginia would be considered the eastern species now.

[@the.tricky.outdoorsman]

@@natureatyourdoor why did they change it though?

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@the.tricky.outdoorsman I think they decided to elevate 3 of the snakes to species level....i don't really understand taxonomy but it is not static...always influx...new data,..biochem..dna...etc...Ha! It almost seems....."political".....aaaagggghhh! Lol! Right?

[@davidmarshall6751]

Thanks for education about snakes. Most people are ignorant about them and thats why they fear them. I'm passionate about snakes as well. My dream is to catch a six or seven foot black snake. I suspect a species that large would be approximately 30 years old.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Check out my video this Saturday with a 5 foot black snake called " 5 reasons not to fear or kill black snakes"! 😉

[@MrAvidOutdoorsman]

The best method for me is to try to see their pupils. I think that is the most definitive way of knowing a venomous snake.?😳

[@natureatyourdoor]

You know....i have always joked about that...like get down on the ground and look em in the eye right....lol. But it is true, I believe for snakes, say in the state of VA but not a universal rule...i need to look that up again.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Quote from internet source: " The most dangerous snake in the world is the inland taipan. It’s found only in Australia, and its bite contains enough venom to kill at least 100 grown men. It also had round pupils and no facial pits. Snakes’ pupil shape depends on the times of day in which they are active. Diurnal snakes (those active during the day) tend to have round pupils, while nocturnal snakes more often have slits. Slit pupils can help regulate the amount of light entering a snake’s eye, so that they aren’t blinded when operating in unexpected sunlight. They also help a snake to hunt by hiding the circular pupils that may stand out to prey."

[@billymills9378]

caught two rat snakes stuck in plastic fence under house they were so tangled up that it took an hour to free them i was scared that i got my neighbor to help finally they were lose I put them in a bucket and released them in woods latter on I saw several baby rat snakes under house I just left them alone I have pictures and vedios

[@natureatyourdoor]

Nice Work Billy Mills! You can share pics and videos on my nature at your door Facebook,page under visitor posts tab!

[@wilsonlanford6575]

I have no problem with black snakes have even observed them doing their "stick" impersonation while a squirrel was sniffing the snake. But I have a baby black snack living under boards next to my container garden. I picked him up and moved him once but he came back. I am worried about my little toads that also live in the garden. I hope he doesn't grow up with a big appetite.

[@natureatyourdoor]

No worries! Black snakes wouldn't ear your toads! They are strictly warm blooded mammal feeders!

[@edwardgray154]

what amazes me is how peeps say snakes just want to bite peeps, all have ran into in the woods they ran away, the only animals that bite people are DOGS.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha! True, right? I hadn't thought of it that way!

[@flyhouseoftruth470]

They can escape a 55gal tank and will hide in coat sleeves. Wedging themselves tight in a coat sleeve in my closet. They will keep escaping I couldn't contain them and end up in the crawlspace of my house. They will eat small mice but don't feed them until they are hungry enough to eat the mouse right away. The mouse will start eating the snake, biting and chewing and the snake will let it, just lay there and be eaten by a mouse it can easally kill.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thanks for observations. They are the master escape artists.,

[@ronvavra]

Thanks for the informative video. Suggestion; get back away from the camera. I doubt there are that many people who want to look up your nose.

[@natureatyourdoor]

?? Oh gosh.

[@Carol-tz4ou]

Okay Mr Taylor how would that go if you found a couple doing the 💞 hanky panky 💞

[@natureatyourdoor]

I have seen video...I would love to video that myself for a black snake episode!

[@Carol-tz4ou]

Mr Taylor one year we had three different pairs doing it in our front yard you guys have a good day of hurting

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@Carol-tz4ou oh my gosh! That is amazing!!!

[@russsmith9042]

I do know this that getting bit by rat snakes and garter snakes makes you repeat yourself over and over again it's a proven fact

[@natureatyourdoor]

Oops...sorry...early video on learning curve. See if my latest videos are much more scripted..directed...high content ..shorter length. Learning learning

[@DarrenC_1024]

So, black snakes puff their cheeks when annoyed? How cute!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha! Right? Lol.

[@Peter-ic7vj]

Frank,stay clear of venomous animals. We must meet one day.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes! An let's do! Where do you call "home"?

[@Peter-ic7vj]

How can we exchange contact in

[@Peter-ic7vj]

😮that was not from me????

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@Peter-ic7vj natureatyourdooryt@gmail

[@edwardmunson3896]

Good video, but don't do that to your dogs!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha! Yeah....they are good dogs and always interested in want I might bring home. I recall we met a rattle snake on a trail when they were temporarily off leash...i stopped to photograph..and they seemed to,instinctively know not to come near during my impromptu photo shoot. They never came close!

[@edwardmunson3896]

@@natureatyourdoor Sir, you have an incredible video. It is interesting and worth viewing and paying attention to. Really enjoyable!

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@edwardmunson3896 thank you! It means a lot to me to have this affirmation and interacting with my viewers is sooo important to me!

[@alfredagreen336]

Good and fun video; until you mentioned evolution; respectfully.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha! That seems to be a hot button! 😉 no worries!

[@gutterfalcon2912]

Water snakes will , they're sassy and STINK.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yeah...i feel like water snakes are easily the most consistently aggressive snakes I have ever encountered!