North Louisiana Wildlife

Follow Us through the Forests and Wetlands

Black western rat snake (chicken snake) crawling over a log

Did you know that western rat snakes eat once every five days?

Western Rat Snakes
at
a Glance

Black rat snake, aka chicken snake, slithering over a fallen log

Key Features:

Western rat snakes are long, black snakes with round pupils and outlines of spots on their backs and sides.

Least Concern - Population Stable

Habitat:

Hardwood forests, swamps, fields, farmlands, and woodlands

nesting habits:

Western rat snakes lay 6 to 44 eggs in May or June.

seasons western rat snakes are active in our area:

All year

Diet:

Mice, rats, frogs, lizards, birds, bird eggs

hunting Behavior:

Western rat snakes hunt in trees and on the ground.

Commonly Confused With:

Black Racers

Rat snake crawling over a fallen tree limb

Western rat snakes are often confused with black racers because both are long, black snakes.

Close up of a black western rat snake (chicken snake) head

Western rat snakes have outlines of spots on their backs and sides.

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