Yes and No with the King snake. If you have venomous snakes on your property and don't want them, a King snake will eliminate them if it chooses. But, if you have non-venomous snakes on your property that you like, well, sadly, they're part of King's diet as well. See, a King doesn't care whether it's prey is venomous or non-venomous. And all snakes respect the King and if they're able to, they'll get out of town quick for fear of being the King's next meal.
We have a black snake that lives in our shrubs along the house. He frequently visits our water feature in our flower garden. He has been here 7yrs and seems dossil. But we never intervene with him. We welcome him every spring. And we call him Norman.
I love your little buddy.... I have one in my backyard and he has been there for many years..about 5ft now..... He is so tame he barely even moves when I walk by.... In the afternoon I can always find him sunning himself in the sunniest part of the property depending upon the season.... One day I decided I would go to the pet store one afternoon to get him a dozen crickets..... Came home, sat down in the backyard and right there he was.!!.... As soon as I dumped the crickets out of the bag he went crazy darting and sliding everywhere trying to catch every one of them at once.... He only managed to grab one, 😃😃🤟👍💥 but he sure was happy.....
Black rat snakes are good. One of them took care of a problem that I had with field mice getting into my garage. Those snakes are always welcome at my place!!
My dad brought home my first baby black snake when I turned six. He was very calm and sweet and I even took him to school for show and tell. I’ve had a few more over the years and all were excellent pets.❤
@@BackyardBertha , I've had a few as pets. One that I had, in Texas we ended up giving him to an Institute that takes them around to schools for children to see. Grew to little over 7 feet. .. his name was Claude. I caught him when he was four foot long.
They get big for a rat snake, and they will eat kittens. We had a feral kitten in our yard then it disappeared, I suspect that one of the rat snakes got it.
King and Rat snakes can grow to be real sweethearts (as snakes go) once you acclimatize them to human touch, etc. I owned one of each out in Phoenix years ago, had to give them to a shop owner when I moved back east. It is a shame they get miscast as venomous with all the vermin they hold in check. Thanks BBT for spreading the word.
Thank you for not freaking out when you see this guy. I have lived in the Ozarks for a half a century and have seen many snakes. My motto is leave the wildlife alone. It has worked. I have only seen one Black Racer and, although similar to the Black Snake, it is not the same. I could not keep up with it in the woods and I could cover a lot of ground back then. Very fast indeed. Recently have not seen many snakes and several other creatures as well. So sad what we have done.
Beautiful and peaceful looking Rat snake:) Since many people mistake this snake, a rather harmless non toxic danger as a dangerous moccasin, maybe if you find the time, do a short video to see them side by side to learn what differentiates one from the other:)
We had a really thick, 5 foot long gray rat snake hanging around this yard and the next door neighbor's last summer (SE Alabama). He was an absolutely gorgeous snake. Big boy! Unfortunately, after he set up residence in the area, we don't have cute little chipmunks living in our yard anymore. I don't know if he ate them or just scared them away.
Snakes in the eastern US mimic rattlers by beating the ends of their tales against dry leaves. Black snakes, garter snakes, copperheads, ect all demonstrate this form of mimicry.
Even the little Tufted Titmouse (bird) will use snakeskin as part of their nesting material and will "rattle" it if they hear something outside their nest box.
I have black snakes around my rural eastern Kansas home and let them be to catch rodents. They're beneficial to have. I find them sunning themselves in the springtime, close to their den.
We have a few black rat snakes that help control the rodent population around our farm. Some of the females are well over eight feet. I spotted one particularly large female crossing a twelve foot gate. She spanned nearly the entire gate. I don’t kill snakes I find, but I do relocate any that are close to the house because my wife is deathly afraid of them. My eight year old worries me because he loves to handle them, but doesn’t know which are venomous. I always know if he’s found a rat snake, though. He will smell like their musk. 🤣. He brought a juvenile skunk up a few weeks ago and it was very difficult to explain to him that we aren’t allowed to keep wild animals as pets in our state. He thought I was lying! 😝
These animals can be quite active. I have a pet western black rat snake I call Ram, and she likes to explore to a point where it is a bit difficult to keep her. It helps to let her hang on while I go on walks, and there are sections of the house I just let her roam around in, knowing of course, that she can go 4 feet in any direction from a place she can hold onto. I have seen her climb blinds as well as cupboard doors, which are perhaps half an inch wide. Well, right now I put her in the garage, with a small heater, for brumation, (like hibernation for animals that don't produce much of their own body heat). In hindsight, snakes that hunt, by holding still, (ambush predators) are probably easier pets as a first pet snake.
Part of the reason I got a pet snake is that I am fascinated by snakes as symbols. Black rat snakes in particular are fascinating symbols of tenacity, being an animal where there are stories, of them overcoming birds of prey that tried to prey on them. There are also stories black rat snakes lead other snakes to safety for winter, hence their other name, pilot black snake. I doubt black rat snakes actually lead other snakes to burrows in winter, but there are accounts of them brumating alongside other species. Rattlesnakes were used as symbols in the early history of the United States, "don't tread on me" because for their method of avoiding confrontation with their rattle, but willingness to strike if all other options are gone. Then there is the famous "Join or Die" cartoon's depicting a snake in many severed pieces, each piece with the initials of a state. In the Old Testament, the fiery serpent Moses held up was a symbol of Truth and Christ. Fiery, probably means, venomous, since Truth, reality, and Christ have real power, and venom, would be a symbol of power. Look to Christ who is Truth, and you can be saved the consequences of previously ignoring truth, and, be brought, through Christ, into alignment with truth. In the New Testament, Christ uses them as a symbol of wisdom when he told early Christians to be wise as serpents. Serpents, wise I think in the sense that there are many truths other animals can ignore, but snakes cannot. Snakes don't produce enough body heat to digest food in winter, they cannot run away if caught in the open, etc. I do wonder why a serpent was used as a symbol of Satan. Well, I do somewhat know why the ouroboros (snake eating it's own tail) is used as a symbol for what I consider to be, the most evil, genus, of religions on earth. But that is a story most won't want to learn about. (Snake, eats itself to create itself, a symbol of man as the creator, who creates himself, man creates society creates man creates... etc.) Well, I could go on, many people have used the idea of shedding their skin to symbolize changing themselves etc. But this is already a cumbersome wall of text.
I had one in my house one time. I just let it live inside. He surprised me a few times. After telling about him nobody would come over. So I had to let him go.
Can't say for sure without a better look, but I think the snake you photographed is actually a black RAT snake. Very similar in size and coloration to black racers and they occur in a lot of the same areas. Rat snakes (there are many different species) are very beneficial non venomous snakes who specialize in eating small mammals (rats, mice). Like garter snakes, Racers will simply grab and swallow their prey. Rat snakes, on the other hand, along with the King and Milk snake families, are constrictors.
I agree I'm pretty sure that's a rat snake. Great to have on ones property. I had one for many years (named him Jake)until he/she got out under my privacy fence and was hit by a car. Still he/she managed to get back home before it died. A year later I saw a couple of the offspring in the garden and the young look very different until they mature. I was happy once again. They get very used to seeing a person and just do their thing. Awesome find.
It is a real shock to put your hand under a hen for eggs and feel a snake. Lesson learned, don't gather eggs in the dark. No snake is welcome around chickens.
Done it many times as a kid. My job to go gather from the laying boxes. My papa had a pet king snake. And one of these big rat snakes that hung out by the corn crib. And occasionally would be in the chicken coop. He forbid anyone from harming one. Saying “ they eat a few eggs , but they eat all the rats and most of the poisonous snakes , which is a fair trade “ 😅. Each had to be 6-7 feet long. They were huge old snakes. But I still hated to be surprised by one.
100% a Black Rat Snake belly pattern and diminished saddle pattern on back. Different back and belly than a racer. Plus it's way thicker and made for climbing as you can see not thin and sleek like a Black Racer that's made for speed. I see racers in hedges and small trees but never up in a Oak Trees or up in my barn roof truss like rat snakes here in the Ocala National Forest.
People miss judge these creatures they are wonderful once they trust you will let you hold them they are a snake will bite if provoked, just sharp teeth just wash and use alcohol to clean, ty for this video I'm always searching for the big one
I have seen a Black Snake eat a HUGE Copperhead in my friends yard several years ago😳😳 I DO NOT like snakes BUT this is a good one BUT don’t come into my yard☠️
@@BackyardBertha Because I don't know, and I am lazy, and it's easier to ask you. 5 feet, apparently I am 5'8, so it's as long as me, but most people in the world use metric, we really don't get a picture of anything from feet and inches. I just happen to know my height in the old measurements. I love snakes BTW. That's a biggish snake. The cobras in my backyard are bigger... Not by much. I am one of those weird people that are in some way attractive to snakes, they always want to be friends with me. Can be anxiety inducing when they are poisonous. But I am kind of used to it. I like the shot at the end where he is looking at you from in the garden, can really see his personality coming through. He is a nice boy.
@@BackyardBertha I would to, but I would try to make sure that I'm not where he/she is. My mother once told me that everything has a right to live. That stuck with me.
Their teeth are pretty small for their size, from experience, a 4 foot western black rat snake can barely even break the skin. If there is a local place that lets you handle some common pet snakes, you should try it. Many animals, even wild ones, can get used to having people around if they notice that you are never a threat, over time.
Beautiful black rat snake. Lucky you!
We agree Katie!
Rat snakes and King snakes are welcome on my property any day!
Well said Sharon! Thank you for the visit today.
Same here !
Yes and No with the King snake. If you have venomous snakes on your property and don't want them, a King snake will eliminate them if it chooses. But, if you have non-venomous snakes on your property that you like, well, sadly, they're part of King's diet as well. See, a King doesn't care whether it's prey is venomous or non-venomous. And all snakes respect the King and if they're able to, they'll get out of town quick for fear of being the King's next meal.
Once you catch them and hold them for a while, they become very docile and make good pets!
Thank you for that Sam, we are just happy he is in our territory.
In general
We have a black snake that lives in our shrubs along the house. He frequently visits our water feature in our flower garden. He has been here 7yrs and seems dossil. But we never intervene with him. We welcome him every spring. And we call him Norman.
That's a great story, hello to your Norman!
Please keep Norman around
I love your little buddy.... I have one in my backyard and he has been there for many years..about 5ft now..... He is so tame he barely even moves when I walk by.... In the afternoon I can always find him sunning himself in the sunniest part of the property depending upon the season.... One day I decided I would go to the pet store one afternoon to get him a dozen crickets..... Came home, sat down in the backyard and right there he was.!!.... As soon as I dumped the crickets out of the bag he went crazy darting and sliding everywhere trying to catch every one of them at once.... He only managed to grab one, 😃😃🤟👍💥 but he sure was happy.....
He probably would have preferred a mouse.
We will be sure and keep an eye out for any photo observations. Thank you for the visit today.
But what if he couldn’t catch the mouse? @@varanid9
When you gave him the crickets you became his best friend for keeps. That's how animals are.
Black rat snakes are good. One of them took care of a problem that I had with field mice getting into my garage. Those snakes are always welcome at my place!!
Well said!
My dad brought home my first baby black snake when I turned six. He was very calm and sweet and I even took him to school for show and tell. I’ve had a few more over the years and all were excellent pets.❤
Our yard was overun with voles till a 5ft black snake moved in,no more voles.😂😂
Glad to hear that you found a helpful fiend there.
Its a Black Ratsnake they can reach a length of 8 ft.
Thank you for the comment Parker!
@@BackyardBertha , I've had a few as pets. One that I had, in Texas we ended up giving him to an Institute that takes them around to schools for children to see. Grew to little over 7 feet.
.. his name was Claude. I caught him when he was four foot long.
Your story is wonderful Parker. Really enjoyed learning about your pet Claude!
They get big for a rat snake, and they will eat kittens. We had a feral kitten in our yard then it disappeared, I suspect that one of the rat snakes got it.
King and Rat snakes can grow to be real sweethearts (as snakes go) once you acclimatize them to human touch, etc. I owned one of each out in Phoenix years ago, had to give them to a shop owner when I moved back east. It is a shame they get miscast as venomous with all the vermin they hold in check. Thanks BBT for spreading the word.
Happy to "spread the word" about Rat snakes, Paul. Saw him just the other day too.
Thank you for not freaking out when you see this guy. I have lived in the Ozarks for a half a century and have seen many snakes. My motto is leave the wildlife alone. It has worked. I have only seen one Black Racer and, although similar to the Black Snake, it is not the same. I could not keep up with it in the woods and I could cover a lot of ground back then. Very fast indeed. Recently have not seen many snakes and several other creatures as well. So sad what we have done.
We agree Bill, and understand too.
It's happening all over the world m8. Hi from Oz.
That's a large and beautiful snake, Bertha. I wish he was here on my property, as I have attic rats. He'd take care of them quickly, I'm sure.
Thank you for the comment and visit today.
I have picked up black rat snakes 8ft back when I had chickens they were well fed on chicks, and eggs. They are a docile snake not prone to biting.
Thank you for the comment, wow 8'.
He's a cool little guy.
Beautiful and peaceful looking Rat snake:) Since many people mistake this snake, a rather harmless non toxic danger as a dangerous moccasin, maybe if you find the time, do a short video to see them side by side to learn what differentiates one from the other:)
Good idea! I am always on the lookout for our wildlife.
Beautiful animal
Well done. At the time I'm posting this you have 110 subscribers, yet 27,000 views on this video. Nice job !
Wow, thanks so very much Greg!
Oh Wow! Beautiful Garden Friend 🐍
We agree. Thank you! Cheers!
We had a really thick, 5 foot long gray rat snake hanging around this yard and the next door neighbor's last summer (SE Alabama). He was an absolutely gorgeous snake. Big boy! Unfortunately, after he set up residence in the area, we don't have cute little chipmunks living in our yard anymore. I don't know if he ate them or just scared them away.
We hope that you see this big boy again.
Back in the 70s when I was a kid, I had a 6 footer named Vincent.... Miss that snake....
Thank you for sharing.
There is no such thing as "bad snakes", that is pure ignorance
.Venomous snakes should also be respected and are an important part of the ecosystem.
Very pretty snake
Indeed he is.
Snakes in the eastern US mimic rattlers by beating the ends of their tales against dry leaves. Black snakes, garter snakes, copperheads, ect all demonstrate this form of mimicry.
We appreciate your comments and visit today!
Even the little Tufted Titmouse (bird) will use snakeskin as part of their nesting material and will "rattle" it if they hear something outside their nest box.
Beautiful serpent!
Thank you so much!
It's sad most people would kill this snake without another thought. Shameful.
We consider it a privilege to live near nature too.
I have black snakes around my rural eastern Kansas home and let them be to catch rodents. They're beneficial to have. I find them sunning themselves in the springtime, close to their den.
Thank you for your visit today.
6' is about the average of the large size, but I've run into a couple of these in my life that were close to 8'.
Wow, 8', thanks Hookset!
Very nicely done.
Thank you very much!
I used to see several types of snakes around my large yard until the king snakes moved in. But that's fine by me.
Thank you for sharing, Gary!
They are welcome in my yard anytime.
They love to climb trees and go in holes in trees.
We have seen that too. Thanks for the comment today!
Beautiful snake Ur the Greatest endlessly Loved throughout all None-existent Cosmic Time no doubt Namaste
Thanks for sharing
You bet!
We have a few black rat snakes that help control the rodent population around our farm. Some of the females are well over eight feet. I spotted one particularly large female crossing a twelve foot gate. She spanned nearly the entire gate.
I don’t kill snakes I find, but I do relocate any that are close to the house because my wife is deathly afraid of them. My eight year old worries me because he loves to handle them, but doesn’t know which are venomous. I always know if he’s found a rat snake, though. He will smell like their musk. 🤣. He brought a juvenile skunk up a few weeks ago and it was very difficult to explain to him that we aren’t allowed to keep wild animals as pets in our state. He thought I was lying! 😝
Thank you for sharing you adventures with the wildlife John. Did you say skunk?
@@BackyardBertha
Yep. 😆
These animals can be quite active. I have a pet western black rat snake I call Ram, and she likes to explore to a point where it is a bit difficult to keep her. It helps to let her hang on while I go on walks, and there are sections of the house I just let her roam around in, knowing of course, that she can go 4 feet in any direction from a place she can hold onto. I have seen her climb blinds as well as cupboard doors, which are perhaps half an inch wide. Well, right now I put her in the garage, with a small heater, for brumation, (like hibernation for animals that don't produce much of their own body heat). In hindsight, snakes that hunt, by holding still, (ambush predators) are probably easier pets as a first pet snake.
Part of the reason I got a pet snake is that I am fascinated by snakes as symbols. Black rat snakes in particular are fascinating symbols of tenacity, being an animal where there are stories, of them overcoming birds of prey that tried to prey on them. There are also stories black rat snakes lead other snakes to safety for winter, hence their other name, pilot black snake. I doubt black rat snakes actually lead other snakes to burrows in winter, but there are accounts of them brumating alongside other species.
Rattlesnakes were used as symbols in the early history of the United States, "don't tread on me" because for their method of avoiding confrontation with their rattle, but willingness to strike if all other options are gone. Then there is the famous "Join or Die" cartoon's depicting a snake in many severed pieces, each piece with the initials of a state.
In the Old Testament, the fiery serpent Moses held up was a symbol of Truth and Christ. Fiery, probably means, venomous, since Truth, reality, and Christ have real power, and venom, would be a symbol of power. Look to Christ who is Truth, and you can be saved the consequences of previously ignoring truth, and, be brought, through Christ, into alignment with truth. In the New Testament, Christ uses them as a symbol of wisdom when he told early Christians to be wise as serpents. Serpents, wise I think in the sense that there are many truths other animals can ignore, but snakes cannot. Snakes don't produce enough body heat to digest food in winter, they cannot run away if caught in the open, etc.
I do wonder why a serpent was used as a symbol of Satan. Well, I do somewhat know why the ouroboros (snake eating it's own tail) is used as a symbol for what I consider to be, the most evil, genus, of religions on earth. But that is a story most won't want to learn about. (Snake, eats itself to create itself, a symbol of man as the creator, who creates himself, man creates society creates man creates... etc.)
Well, I could go on, many people have used the idea of shedding their skin to symbolize changing themselves etc. But this is already a cumbersome wall of text.
Thank you for sharing your story. Really like the pilot story, leading other to safety too.
It looks so much like what we call in Miami the Black Racer or the Everglades Racer.
Thank you for the observation on Racers today.
Nice shots of this lovely Colubrid....
Thanks for visiting
I enjoyed your video 🖤
Glad you enjoyed
I had one in my house one time. I just let it live inside. He surprised me a few times. After telling about him nobody would come over. So I had to let him go.
I think that you did the right thing. Thank you for the comment today.
Treat him well. He's doing a fine job for you. ;
Agree 100%
They just want to live a peaceful life, like the rest of us. I have countless stories about black rat snakes. They are awesome.
We appreciate you sharing that.
There are really no bad snakes.
Thank you for your visit today.
Yeah. I like blacksnakes. I have one around here.
Thank you for sharing and the visit Donna!
Can't say for sure without a better look, but I think the snake you photographed is actually a black RAT snake. Very similar in size and coloration to black racers and they occur in a lot of the same areas. Rat snakes (there are many different species) are very beneficial non venomous snakes who specialize in eating small mammals (rats, mice). Like garter snakes, Racers will simply grab and swallow their prey. Rat snakes, on the other hand, along with the King and Milk snake families, are constrictors.
Yeah, that's what I was thinking.
You could be on to something, all the same, really appreciate your visit today.
I agree I'm pretty sure that's a rat snake. Great to have on ones property. I had one for many years (named him Jake)until he/she got out under my privacy fence and was hit by a car. Still he/she managed to get back home before it died. A year later I saw a couple of the offspring in the garden and the young look very different until they mature. I was happy once again. They get very used to seeing a person and just do their thing. Awesome find.
We are glad to read that your Rat snake story lives on...
Have both on my property and can only tell the difference by behavior
It is a real shock to put your hand under a hen for eggs and feel a snake. Lesson learned, don't gather eggs in the dark. No snake is welcome around chickens.
Wow, that's a story to remember Jerry! Agree.
Done it many times as a kid. My job to go gather from the laying boxes. My papa had a pet king snake. And one of these big rat snakes that hung out by the corn crib. And occasionally would be in the chicken coop. He forbid anyone from harming one. Saying “ they eat a few eggs , but they eat all the rats and most of the poisonous snakes , which is a fair trade “ 😅. Each had to be 6-7 feet long. They were huge old snakes. But I still hated to be surprised by one.
We agree too, thank you for sharing.
they can climb brick walls , electric poles , get in your car , in your boots , caught two mating in my back yard ....
Wow, never have seen that. Thank you for the visit and comment Jim!
"they are not venomous" 🐍 :bite:💀
We agree.
100% a Black Rat Snake belly pattern and diminished saddle pattern on back.
Different back and belly than a racer.
Plus it's way thicker and made for climbing as you can see not thin and sleek like a Black Racer that's made for speed. I see racers in hedges and small trees but never up in a Oak Trees or up in my barn roof truss like rat snakes here in the Ocala National Forest.
Hey John, Thank you for taking the time to ID this black snake. Glad that you can see both in your lovely Ocala NF.
People miss judge these creatures they are wonderful once they trust you will let you hold them they are a snake will bite if provoked, just sharp teeth just wash and use alcohol to clean, ty for this video I'm always searching for the big one
Thank you for the comment Larry!
They are beneficial 2 us.
I have seen a Black Snake eat a HUGE Copperhead in my friends yard several years ago😳😳 I DO NOT like snakes BUT this is a good one BUT don’t come into my yard☠️
Wow, that sounds like a cool sighting!
She sounds like a female Mr Rogers
What is 70 inches in normal measurement?
It is 5.8333 feet, why do you ask?
@@BackyardBertha Because I don't know, and I am lazy, and it's easier to ask you. 5 feet, apparently I am 5'8, so it's as long as me, but most people in the world use metric, we really don't get a picture of anything from feet and inches. I just happen to know my height in the old measurements. I love snakes BTW. That's a biggish snake. The cobras in my backyard are bigger... Not by much. I am one of those weird people that are in some way attractive to snakes, they always want to be friends with me. Can be anxiety inducing when they are poisonous. But I am kind of used to it. I like the shot at the end where he is looking at you from in the garden, can really see his personality coming through. He is a nice boy.
I wouldn't kill her/him, but I wouldn't hang around where the snake is.
We plan to give it freedom to enjoy the habitat. Cheers Pete!
@@BackyardBertha I would to, but I would try to make sure that I'm not where he/she is. My mother once told me that everything has a right to live. That stuck with me.
Their teeth are pretty small for their size, from experience, a 4 foot western black rat snake can barely even break the skin. If there is a local place that lets you handle some common pet snakes, you should try it. Many animals, even wild ones, can get used to having people around if they notice that you are never a threat, over time.
I think it’s a King snake
Thank you David.
@@BackyardBertha welcome 😎
My grandmother was an absolute snake assassin with a garden hoe. I’ve had success with a bush axe.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
That's not a Black Snake...that is a Rat Snake and its locomotive is not quick. A Black Racer is quick.
Thank you for the visit and comments today.
Oh hell no😮
Thank you for the visit Cheryl.
That’s a black rat snake not a black racer ma’am.
Appreciate your comment and observation too.
I Hate Snakes !
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Okay Indy!
Why?
Dragonn
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