I had a small farm on top of a high ridge in Western WV some years back, I didn't have any neighbors close by and the snakes in the area seemed to congregate at my place. It was true that if there was a large black snake in the barn I wouldn't see any copperheads, if there wasn't a black snake I would always see copperheads. After nearly getting hit a few times, if there wasn't a black snake I would catch a large one on the road to take home to put in the barn. I had a 7+ footer once that stayed for a few years and became quite tolerant of me, even letting me pick her up. She would always be around when I was working on the truck or machinery as the toolboxes were open and she was interested in what was in them, after rodents I suppose. I didn't mind the occasional egg she took from the chicken boxes, she was a good friend.
I'm scared of snakes but I left the 2 five footers alone I found in my back yard. Reason one is because I believe that they were a couple and the other reason is I haven't seen any rodents or copperheads since they arrived
@@petewiltfang Good for you! I have encountered many snakes; without exception, they will leave you alone if you leave them alone. I only fear that I may step on an unseen snake and provoke a strick.
I watched this video two days ago(6/21/22). Today, I was visiting my mother, who lives in Southern New Jersey, and my niece comes running into the house yelling, "snake! snake!" I went outside to investigate and found a black rat snake. I repeated everything I learned from this video, especially the part about it being a good snake. What was really interesting was that I saw and heard him vibrating his tail, which I explained was their response to feeling threatened. They all think I am a snake expert. I'm a subscriber now.
I was in my shed, picked up a box and a four footer scurried out past me. After running in place for a few seconds, startled, I saw it was a black snake and let him stay where he was. No mice in my shed!
Had one in my chicken house. When he moved in the rats that had been killing my chickens disappeared. He was a wonderful addition as the barn was alongside the chicken house. Much better than a cat. He got an egg now and then but I figured he had it coming. He, by the way, was my childish reference. Thanks for your great information.
When my dad was young, he would pick them up and put them in his pocket. It got so bad my grandmother would make him empty his pockets before she allowed him in the house.
I'm 65 and somewhat of an amateur herpetologist. Having grown up in Florida and encountering practically every species of venomous reptiles, insects and fish , I still don't understand why some folks refuse to educate themselves in order to dispel fears and misunderstanding and also to preserve species vital to the ecosystem. Your posts are professional, accurate and informative! I only wish more people would take the time to view and learn.
Thanks for the shout out! Lol..I proudly just turned 67 and am not a Herpetologist but more a jack of all nature trades. Of course I agree with everything you said. We can both try to keep educating!
I own a 100 acre farm here in Northeast Georgia,and I have a high population of black snakes and King snakes on my property,and I encourage this.They are great at keeping down rodents,and keeping other snakes out.There are some wetter areas on my property,and I have a pond,but yet for all the time Ive been here,13yrs and not counting the times I spent here growing up,I've only saw two copperheads,and three baby rattlesnakes,but as I said,I have a lot of king snakes on the property as well.I also live in a house that is over 100 yrs old,and I have occasionally had a black snake show up in my house,and always find a shed in my attic,but see very few nice and rats,except for a year that I was invaded by rats.All the being said,I'm not a fan of snakes,but I do everything possible to allow these two snakes to live and thrive on my property,and will damn near fight anybody that kills one.They are a true asset to have around.
So awesome...i just relocated a 5 ft black snake in a friends that came into eat her birds! And just did a soon to,be relwased episode called "5 reasons NOT to fear or kill black snakes. Your comment read like my script. I wish I could have interviewed you!
Was doing some remodeling work on a bathroom and had a black snake come in and take a canary with young off the nest. Also had them get in the pigeon loft and kill a about twenty pigeons in one day. I do tolerate them, but still get very annoyed with their bs. I love birds.
I live in the country too in an old house. Had a baby black snake wiggle across my way as I was making my way to the livingroom with my coffee. 😮 I'm female and live alone . So my question is where might this fella be hiding?
@@redtickhoundI would suggest making a couple of small closed boxes with a small hole in one side with a clean jar lid filled with water inside. I would put them on the floor right against walls as snakes are likely to follow along walls. Check them in the morning to see if the cute little thing is curled up inside and if it is, let it go outside away from your house. Good luck!
My neighbor across the street called me in a panic that there was a snake on her side porch trying to get at a birds nest. I walked over and saw it was a small black snake and simply picked it up and relocated it to the wood line. I thought she (the neighbor) was going to pass out as she screamed "OMG he picked it up!!!"
I got divorced and had to move into a total fixer upper. I completely gutted the house for a total rewiring and replumb. I was installing black flexible gas lines and had the pieces and parts everywhere. I got tired about 2am and crashed in my clothes, woke up the next morning starving. I didn’t have any appliances there yet, so I brought over a chest freezer and a small microwave to make quick meals. I had some frozen pancakes, sausages, O.J. and egg bowls so I groggily went to the chest freezer and there all around was the gas line stuff, some of it laying on top of the chest freezer. Again very groggy, I moved and pushed stuff off the top and retrieved the food items, and with my hands full, I had the frozen pancakes bag in my teeth and a sausage pack under one arm. I used the top of my head to hold the freezer top open, so when I backed away with my hands & mouth full, the lid plopped down. Now that always made a certain sound and I didn’t hear it that time, so I lifted it with my left elbow… Damn, some of the black flexible gas line had slid over in between the lid and the chest. Dang it! I rearranged the stuff I was holding and with my left hand, frustratingly grabbed the “black flexible gas line” to flip it out and away…. I think ya all can figure out by now that it wasn’t “black flexible gas line”… I’m now biologically 10 years older than the age on my D.L. 😂
I live in a dilapidated cottage I have been slowly fixing up when finances allow. It was infested with mice when I bought it. I've managed to reduce their numbers way down but I still have a bad problem with mice and nothing seemed to eliminate them. They've ruin 2 stoves, 1 refrigerator and made a couple couches a metropolis. An exterminator said there are hundreds of ways they are getting in. I'm slowly fixing the old place up and closing off entrances. A couple years ago a few black snakes got into my place. It freaked me out at first because I have dogs. Within two weeks I did not have anymore mice! The mice still get in when the weather get cold and become problematic over the winter but come late spring I notice mice dropping disappear and I stop hearing the noisy mice at night. (Whoever said quiet as a mouse, never had them.) I never see the black snakes anymore but I certainly know they are on the job! Just wish they would hang around all year!
LOVE IT! I am a PATC trail maintainer of the Appalachian Trail near Bears Den. I use to be afraid of snakes. Now I enjoy seeing all the snakes. Especially the black snake. I saw a black snake decapitated and laid beside the trail. Broke my heart as black snakes are "good guys." Thanks for educating more people about black snakes. I have shared your video with as many people as possible. Long live the "panther snake."
Btw I did four episodes while hiking through Bear a Den! Co out the stump mushroom and my green snake episode..and box turtle..and black snake route..all filmed on your section of trail. (I just finished section hiking all of VA AT! Thanks for your work on the trail!
I am 65 years old and, since my mid 20s, it has always been my habit to learn at least one new thing every day. I predict many student hours in front of your videos in the future. Thanks for posting these!
Ha! That is awesome ...I am learning everyday as well! Be sure to check out my playlists for more great content. I try to include lesser known and unique facts in every presentation!
I was never one to cozy up to snakes but after many years of living in the real back woods of South Carolina I learned this snake is your pal. I’ve never see a single mouse in a very large barn and two other farm buildings .. I do see the mother load of black snakes and they are doing a great job keeping mice in check.. I’ve actually picked a couple up that we’re to close to the road or machinery and they are pretty laid back if you handle them like this gentlemen is.. Happy their around!
Great to hear about your experiences and how your relationship with the outdoors has grown with your time in "the real back woods!" Ha! Thank you for your nature stewardship!
I once had dozens of photos of a Black Rat Snake I caught In our Old outhouse on my grandparents estate. When I released It, I took it far into The woods (My mother had an unnaturally intense fear of snakes) and held Him up to a tree. In seconds, The snake slithered up High and onto a branch. It's utterly amazing to watch a creature That has no limbs, claws, or anything sticky, climb up a tree With expert ease! Lots of snakes climb surprisingly good. Just ask anyone who's ever encountered a rattlesnake living in an eagle's nest!🙀😱😵💫
Great!! I am 65 yr old woman and have loved snakes my whole life. I would never harm any unless I thought it or they would be dangerous to my grandchildren. Thank you for sharing very valuable information.
good for you, Kimberly my spouse was deathly afraid of just about everything. We used to have Sand Hill Cranes walk right up to us looking for a handout and she would not even come outside while they were around! Ironically they left the Indigo's alone probably because I fed them instead (Sand Hills are omnivorous). Yeah Sand Hill's go after snakes but they left ours alone. My Great Granddaughter used to pet both the Sand Hill's AND the snakes! She's now 17yo and has a pet Dragon, a dog, & a rabbit that she adores. What do animals teach us? Love...
Thank you for that good info about black snakes! I had a few encounters with black snakes in Indiana and Illinois. I never hurt them. In fact I enjoyed the encounter and the one in southern Illinois seemed to be as curious about me as I was of it. I was in a wooded area and it slowly came straight toward me. I crouched down and began speaking to it in a low friendly tone and held my hand out toward it. It slowly came to my hand and felt a finger tip with it's forked tounge and then slowly turned away. An awesome experience.
Copperheads are scarily strong as well, much to my surprise but the last one I relocated because of my tiny Chihuahuas and their fearlessness of anything, no matter what size. I used to kill the Copperheads but have never seen any rattlers although I know they are in the area.
I saw one copperhead in my 41 years living in South Eastern PA. It was laying on a hiking trail, getting sun, and my hiking partner at the time stepped over it, startling it, and it smacked itself into her leg as it was trying to get out of there. It had no interest in messing with us. I tried to warn her ahead, but there wasn't enough time. I've seen tons of Black Snakes, and some have been a good six feet long, but they've always been well tempered. Sometimes they're at eye level in the trees. The garter snakes are far more aggressive generally. I've had one strike at me from the side of our sidewalk. I loved your video Mr. Taylor.
Garters stink as well. But they are also very pretty. my favorite though is the Eastern Indigo. What a beautiful snake they are AND very docile. They are not at all aggressive and may even approach a stretched out hand especially if they wanna get warmed up a bit. They're quite a bit larger than a black snake though. We had them in our yard (before we moved) and they'd crawl right up on me as I sat on our porch. They weren't figidity like this snake is. At least not once they got to know you. They'd even allow you to pet their head I'd Iike to think they enjoyed the touch. They are also on the threatened list (unlike the black snake) thus its illegal to intentionally harm them in any way. I even taught our dogs to leave them be and they accepted them.
@@leecowell8165 Wow, that sounds incredible. I'd like to see one of them sometime. I'm all over the US, so hopefully I'll get lucky one of these days. That reminds me of our Koi we had years ago. They would come when called, and some of the older ones would come by name, but in all fairness they were spoken to many more times. Very intelligent animals, and I believe there are many intelligent animals. We're just not very good at being the judge. It seems like that is changing, slowly.
I'm at 2200' in the Virginia Blue Ridge. I had a 7'6" black rat snake in my walkable crawl space for 2 years. I have 4' fluorescent fixtures on the walls and he lived on top of two of them, nearly extending the entire 8'. At first he did frighten me by rattling some debris and sheet metal very convincingly. I let him stay with the idea that he would eat rodents, but this was a mistake. He barely ate enough to justify his keep and he pooped on everything. I tried to feed him an egg n a spoon but he just recoiled away from it, though my snake book said that they'd eat eggs in captivity. I do have rattlers and copperheads and believed that they don't get along with black rat snakes, another reason he was welcome, but you've disabused me of that myth. Thanks for the enlightening video.
Same. I had a pair of large black racers take up residence in my basement. Then they somehow made their way up into my walk in attic space too. In the course of a year they tore up ALL my insulation before I even realized it. Yes pooping all over the place. I couldnt figure out what was happening until one finally got himself stuck on a glue trap in the attic for the mice. He croaked. Cost me $185 to have it removed. A month later my upstairs still stinks to high heaven from this PEST! No offense but I HATE snakes!! Ive now spent over $1000 on pest and wildlife control this Summer due to these ‘oh so friendly “helpful” (not!) snakes. Caught 2 more in my basement and 2 others trying to get in and one enjoying my front porch. They’re all in snake ‘heaven’ now. 🤷♀️ I will be more proactive in the future. Bird net has become my best friend all around the house and exterior doors! Next I have to replace all the damaged insulation. 😢
Just found a baby on the front porch. I moved it over to the side of the yard over the fence away from my cats. I love snakes & am always excited to see them. Rat snakes are great to have around!
Yes they are great to have around! I am waiting to come a cross a juvenile! I want to do a side by side comparison with a copperhead! I get so many messages and photos from people that tell me they killed a copperhead! 100 percent of reports sent to me ...it was always a juvi black snake or milk snake! Thanks for watching and taking time to comment! !
@@natureatyourdoor that’s really too bad. I wish more ppl would take the time to familiarize themselves w/ snakes so they can identify a non poisonous one vs a poisonous one. I’ve lived out here for over 20 yrs & have only seen a poisonous snake (cotton mouth) maybe 2xs. The rest have always been rat snakes, green garden, red bellied sliders etc. I found another baby today on the back porch! Guess a nest hatched somewhere nearby? There used to be a ton of wildlife out here & lots of space. But it’s been growing fast anymore these days
I love your channel Frank!. I live in the center of southern Indiana in a farming area with woods. We have abundant Black Rat Snakes now but didn't when we started our homestead; we had abundant mice. We live in a log home and have an external garage which have both become a preferred hangout for Rat Snakes. The garage currently has 6 or 7 molted skins hanging from the garage door rails and 1 or 2 from the porch eaves. My wife first spied one in the house when she was doing dishes; it slid across the cabinet and up and around the window frame (the dishes were waiting for me to finish when I got home). I later found a molted skin that covered the length of our piano keyboard. Mice have been getting scarce for some reason... I like these harmless critters!
I had an everglades rat snake as a pet for several years. Kinda ill tempered when I got her because she wasn't handled much by the breeder but she tamed down so well I could let her out in a room full of people & she would visit every person there. She loved going across heads & thru eyeglasses & exploring pockets. She even refused to bite me in full feeding response by then. Now I have a black rat(people call em chicken snakes here) living in my attic & taking advantage of the mice that visit from my field. Best mouse trap around. I've fed captive rattlesnakes & copperheads & the mice seem to suffer much more from the venom than they ever did from a hit & wrap from my rat snake. Needless to say I prefer rat snakes or any constrictor over venomous snakes because of that.
I understand why people have exotic pets and you have every right in the world to do so!! Personally I feel that snakes and other exotics should be left to the wild to do what they are meant to do! I had a parakeet in high school and it lived past my years in college and my parents took care of him until his death a few years later. When I think of the sweet little bird I think what a shame it was he had to live in a cage for close ten years, without ever feeling really free or having the other birds around to bond with…just saying 😢
@user-go3qk5yf4l that does sound good in theory & I'm fully in favor of leaving wild things wild. It's not uncommon for me to encounter a whitetail fawn that's been "abandoned". Usually if I send it back where mom left it mom shows up in an hour or so. Too many people don't understand how that works & assume a baby alone is motherless. Deer, unlike human babies, can run almost as fast as mom within hours of birth & can be left alone much longer than human babies or wolves, cats etc... so I expect mom to return. Animals born in captivity though are a different matter & my rat snake was captive born. She was acclimated to humans when I got her & became very friendly to visitors, much like my Labrador Retriever. I live in an area where walking horses are very popular. I've been around them & the shows for them most of my life. I don't like the way they're trained & really don't care for most people involved in the walking horse business. But having been so close to them I also know those horses are better cared for than most people. In the same way, most pets get better care than they would ever get in the wild. Being born in captivity typically doesn't allow survival instincts to develop like they would out of necessity if wild born. Debating merits of domestication is another discussion entirely but my point here is wild things are better left wild & captive things are better cared for since they have much less ability to survive in the wild. We did this to them, now it's our responsibility to care for them unless/until we wise up & stop domesticating things that should be wild.
@@bjdog42 , I’m sure you realize in that case and in caring for lame or animals that need care, I would do the same. The word pet is really what I’m talking about and if you read your post, I don’t believe you mentioned the snake was your pet. I’m pretty sure we probably think more alike than differently. Honestly, I still feel we should leave wild and exotics to the wild, unless for some reason they need our help & attention for injuries or misfortune. Wild and exotics more times than not, end up in sewers, small cages or somewhere unbefitting for the beautiful animal they were intended to be…
@user-go3qk5yf4l I didn't say pet specifically but I did say I got her from a breeder. Good breeders(and this one was) only deal with captive born animals. Everglades snakes aren't native to my area(not that I would expect you to know that) but the wild black rat that lives in my attic is so I only handle it on the rare occasions when it visits. There's also a great horned owl that has set up a post near me & I'm happy to see it but I don't bother it. Humans can & do live close to wild things without interfering with them & I do. Yes, we probably agree on many things. I haven't had another pet snake for almost 25 years & don't plan to get any more but she taught me a great deal about snake behavior which I appreciate still. Have a great day!
I absolutely love this video!! Thank you so very much! We live on a farm and have a 6 to 7 foot black snake that happily roams about on the farm. They’re so great to have around. Most recently I found a young black rat snake along the top of a restored outhouse on our property. It was simply hanging out at the top of the wall and under the over hang. “He” just hung out watching me plant some peppermint. Again, thank you so very much for this video
Awesome to hear from someone with such a great attitude about snakes! And thank you for sharing with our learning community your experiences! I am hoping to do an episode on juvenile blacksnakes and compare them to copperheads which saddly and always surprises me are mistaken for copperhead and killed!
Hi AKTrapper! Yes.. Your words "our helpful friends in our backyard" ...great way to express it! Thanks for commenting..appreciate you! Hope you stay connect with us here at NAYD. I love connecting to my viewers!
Yes! Sooooooo glad you wanted to learn more about it. So someone on Facebook had killed two..laid em out .then asked if they were COPPERHEADS! oh geeze. SMH!
So crazy what you said about the snake vibrating it's tail when you opened the container bc my babe has a corn snake and we were in the reptile room he has and we literally heard her rattle and we were both like WTF.. we looked it up and it said that yes they can in fact do that 😁.. please continue making videos just found you but I am loving ALL the videos.. you make everything so interesting when most are SOOO boring 🤣.. thanks again
Hi Jen! Thank you for kind and encouraging words! And welcome to my channel! I am grateful you found me! Yes...this behavior is fascinating! So what came first...tail vibrating or rattles?
I had a mice and rat problem then suddenly it went away. Got up one morning to find a black rat snake on my walkway so I named him George and was careful about not interfering with his activity. I think for one reason or another George is no longer around, I miss that guy and for any of you black snakes out there you would be more than welcome to take up resident on my 15 acres😊
@@natureatyourdoor No problem. I think what gets to me is ppl ignorance of snakes. All this info at your fingertips.... And still ppl will kill a black snake. I got into it..... Pretty heated argument over this subject. Seems like no matter what i do he still is scared to death of snakes.
@@natureatyourdoor Well.... U aint gonna believe this. Working the flea market this weekend my wife and I rescued a 4 foot black snake. Of course they were gonna kill it. Crowd of ppl...untill I showed up. Boxed her up and brought her home and released her in the attic. If there is a way I would like to send u a short video of my wife handling the snake. She was so gentle with her. No fear at all!
I have one that lives in my Attic, I'm terrified of snakes BTW, but since I was gutting and remodeling my house room by room, we ran into each other pretty regularly and I ended up naming it Snoop the Snake.
I’m very pleased you corrected the ‘poisonous’ reference. If you were here in Australia I don’t think you would be handling our black snake, Pseudechis porphyriacus, which is one of our large number of venomous elapids. Mind you, our red-bellied blacks are not inclined to bite unless they feel very threatened, though being picked up would probably be a sufficient threat. Like many elapids they flatten their necks as a warning sign. It’s not quite as impressive as a cobra, but quite impressive all the same.
Nothing Beats your Alls Tiapan!!! Nothing!, quite literally the Most Venomous snake 🐍 of all Time! 😯😬Thank Goodness the Fear snake lives out in the middle of Nowhere!, NOW COULD YOU IMAGINE If The Tiapan had the Attitude & disposition of a Black Mamba??? That's Really what makes it the Dangerous on the planet, because of its Nervousness & Agression! But Yeah have fun in the land Down Under!, considering you guys have 11 of the most Dangerous snakes in the world, I've Watched plenty of Steve Irwins videos!, HE IS MISSED DEARLY!!!!👍💯😔😢
I have an eight foot one living in my outbuildings near Raleigh NC. I know he is eight foot because it let me measure him with a tape measure. Very docile, it will hang out in the rafters and actually move to where I'm working in the shop. I'm not a big snake fan but it is most welcome to live in my barns. It has its own den in the corner of one.
I'm in Raleigh too. I was a manager with one of the area home rental companies. We had an eviction in Garner(suburb) and the departing resident released 24 snakes in the home. While I was in the home taking pictures of the damage and trash left behind, things started moving. I realized what was causing the movement and decided to go outside for awhile. That was a real surprise! Finally went to a neighbor and asked if they knew about the snakes and the neighbor said her son visited the house often and all the snakes were non-venomous. We left the doors open for a couple of days and most (I'm guessing) left of their own accord, but one afternoon I got a call from a lady screaming at me in Spanish. Turns out a couple of the snakes had taken up residence under the dishwasher and she "found" them while cleaning the home. I don't speak a word of Spanish but I understood exactly what she was telling me to do to myself if I thought she was going back into the house. Good times.
Wow! Very informative. While hiking the Appalachian Trail in June of 2023 in Virginia, I saw a black snake that was different than the other two black snakes I saw. It was up in a tree, maybe 7 feet long, shiny slick black, and had a large segmented head. Its head seemed to track me as I climbed over a fence style. It had a very ominous demeanor. The other black snake was 4 feet long and had a white belly, and the third black snake was jet black and was on the ground and looked similar to the black snake in this video.
I’ve got a big rat snake that lives in my shed. She’s my buddy! I have to move her every now and then, and she’s very docile. I get rat snakes off the road all the time, and I’ve only run into one that had an attitude. It thought it was a king cobra lol I’m in Kentucky, and we have coppers all over. I see them in my tree line all the time. I leave them alone, they leave me alone. Juvenile rat snakes don’t look like coppers at all! Copperheads have a ‘Hershey kiss’ on their sides.
Awesome William! Funny story about that ONE black snake. I agree....juvi get snakes don't look ANYTHING like Copperheads but sooooo many people kill them automatically because they see a PATTERN! I am hoping to do a juvi vs copperhead video this fall! I have been in the forest for 60 years and have yet to see a copperhead! Crazy! How reliably can you come across Copperheads in your neck of the woods? I would love to come down and film them...i am on southwest VA!
I caught a very young one a few days ago in our kitchen. He was aggressive at first but calmed down a lot once I could release his head. One thing I learned from videos like yours is how important it is to support the snake, which I did then. He was still wild but was not trying to bite. I released him outside. A bit strange that he was out and about in the middle of November though.
I was climbing up a rock face in Connecticut with my wife when I came over an edge and was face to face with a rat snake. Obviously my first reaction was to back off. But then I went over what I'd seen. I realized it was just a rat snake and honestly I was just super stoked. I swear she just barely raised her head and I almost heard her say, "What's up?" So we carefully climbed past her and I apologized for disturbing her midday respite. Beautiful creatures. Thanks for giving us their latin name. That is indeed suer cool.
You were 80% correct about everything you stated. By the way, this was a great video!! I’m very glad you made this, so people can see how docile a wild caught Blacksnake can act. The one and ONLY thing you didn’t get right (in my opinion), is a hungry Blacksnake will devour a Rattlesnake or Copperhead easily and without a second thought!! I’ve walked up on a large female Blacksnake in the wild eating a Copperhead and it had no problem doing it. I also knew a local guy who collected snakes that fed his almost 7.5ft pet Blacksnake Copperheads and Rattlesnakes on a fairly regular basis. He had everything from all the local snakes of the Southern U.S. to several types of Cobras and an extremely wide variety of Pit Vipers, from many different foreign countries. He would feed nuisance male Rattlesnakes and male Copperhead’s from around his property to his giant female Blacksnake, just to give her something different in her diet. He lived around a rock quarry and when they would dynamite the mountainsides, those huge vibrations would send the snakes down from the hills and they’d come down into the neighboring housing areas. He would come home after work to find snakes all over his yard and in many neighbors yards, just coiled up and lying around. That’s why a said ‘nuisance’ males. The females were always taken back to the edge of the woods, in the same direction of the quarry. I’m 100% with you on venomous snakes not being a preferred part of their diet, so to speak, but they will no doubt eat those two varieties without hesitation!! Seeing a 7 foot Blacksnake overpower a 3.5 foot Rattlesnake is something I’ll never forget.lol I thought for sure the Rattlesnake would win….man was I so wrong! She over powered him so quickly he didn’t stand a chance. Not even a slight chance. Blacksnake’s are very cunning and if they smell food like a birds nest, mouse nest, etc they will go to great lengths to get to that food. The only part that can be kinda sad is when they gorge themselves to the point that they fall out of trees, or off of buildings. They get so full they cannot articulate their bodies, from eating an entire nest!! The only thing I would add to your video other than the surprising amount of venomous snakes they will eat, would be to tell those people who are afraid of Blacksnakes -Blacksnakes and Rat snakes do their business and they they generally move on. They will sometimes hang out a season or two, but when food supply runs out, they will quickly move on. So, if you see a Blacksnake on your property, in your barn, in an old car, etc on your property, just leave it be. It’s doing you BIG favors and you don’t even realize it!! From lowering the population of birds to completely annihilating the rat and mouse populations you may have and not even know about. The damage that mouse and rat populations and over even very large populations of birds can cause can get seriously out of hand. A lot of damage can be done to your property, by any one of those animals and very quickly i might add!! Mice and rats love to chew. Especially on wires, cables, your pets food, your food, and in general gnawing on anything to grind down their ever growing teeth!! Snakes are hardly even noticed if at all. Just leave them be, let them do their job and they’ll leave usually before a single season has passed. If one stays around, then that clearly tells you there’s a plentiful food source. Again, by being around, it’s doing you HUGE favors by at minimum, keeping populations of any nuisance rodents down. Again, GREAT VIDEO!! Thank you, for trying to save the lives of a much unappreciated snake!
I live in North Carolina and a few years back me and five grown men were playing frisbee golf near the nuclear plant in Raleigh and we came across a hognose snake. None of us had ever seen one. It reared up, flattened its head and started hissing violently. Scared the crap out of all of us, it looked like a little cobra. Had to Google that one. Turns out, if we just approached it, it would’ve played dead. One of the most interesting guys I ever came across. Very cool.
I have a 5 ft, at least 5ft long black snake that shows up every spring in one of the bulkheads in my garage…a couple yrs ago I was walking in the door and right above the door was a massive snake head….he’s in there mousing I’m sure. Really cool looking dude
I'm very glad to see this. We just had a snake show up from a hole in our house that I identified as this pantherophis alleghaniensis (though told my mother black rat snake to keep it simple) which made me pretty happy because I love snakes very dearly :3
@@natureatyourdoor Yeah, the big guy is rather shy it seems. Came out twice in the past 5 or so days. We did kinda scare it those two times though. Hopefully he comes out one more time for us to get it and see what's the best choice for it.
I used to live in a trailer park in Glen Allen,a very large black had been seen by me 2 times.Body of snake the size of my forearm,and seen it support it's head more than a foot off the ground like a cobra,I had named it Clide but other than observe it left alone.
Growing up on the west coast of British Columbia, I used to occasionally see all black snakes which we called "racers" as they could move very quickly. I'm not sure if they were related to these black snakes though.
Living in Tennessee back woods, country, we had a huge Black Snake. He would stand up at least 3 ft. And almost look you in the eyes. We had minimal problems with mice. Amazingly, I, being highly fearful of snakes, found myself feeling protection of a sort.
I recall while working on a tobacco farm as a kid in North Carolina. The episode goes like this.A kid was sent to put a tier of tobacco up in top of barn.He puts his hand above his head onto a black snake.It was a good story to share.
I just moved chickens into an old coop yesterday. I went in today and pulled out a 6 foot black snake. Normally I wouldn’t mind them but it ate 4 eggs so we just moved it to a nearby wildlife area.
Wow! I haven't found a six or 8 footer since I started doing videos! Jelly! Jelly. I hope one crosses my path soon! Sorry for late reply..i,have been on the road in my self made camper van and lost track of way too many comments! Apologies!
Personally I am not comfortable around snakes, but in the 1950’s I lived in Florida along a river, we had large “black” snakes that lived under our concrete block house and my uncle encouraged them! They would be on our patio in early mornings, I would rattle the door to get them off so I could get to school! On the other hand my mother was a kind of snake whisperer, she would put her hand down and small snakes would climb her arm, she would then carry them out of harms way! When I tell people about it they look skeptical but I saw this multiple times! I almost didn’t click on this video and I am so glad I did!
Oh yeah they get very large in Arkansas too. I have seen several of these 7' long in my time. Not as long as the Coachwhip snakes I have seen, but pretty long.
We have Texas black rat snakes here, frequently well over six feet. Sometimes they have a rather bad attitude. I do know they love to climb screen doors. It is always a big disarming when you open the front door and there is ten pounds of snake in your face. It wasn’t hard to figure out they were trying to get into the swallows nests under the porch.
@@natureatyourdoor That encounter actually happened to my daughter at her house. Good thing her husband didn’t open the door he would have soiled himself. My daughter and her brother are simply not afraid of snakes in the least.
I'm in central PA. We have black snakes, rattlesnakes and copperheads... my property backs up to the woods and there is stream a little ways back. I had a garden statue of little kissing boy and girl about a foot high in a garden section next to my house, an adorable statue. So you can imagine my reaction to go out one day and find a huge black rat snake wrapped around it sunning itself. Some things you never forget.
Several years ago I noticed a couple of snakes wrapped around each other in a little creek near our house. I thought they were mating, then noticed they were different species. The larger one was a black snake and the smaller one appeared to be a brown water snake. After observing for a while, it became obvious that the larger snake was very patiently killing the smaller snake . . . by wearing it out and keeping its head under wanter for long periods of time. I didn't have time to stay and see how it ended, but I got some video of it. Let me know if. you're interested in seeing it. I've got it on my RUclips channel (not currently up for public viewing.) Thanks for the good information.
Pretty cool video Puggyd58. I just saw a video on facebook of a black colored kings snake eating a copperhead. Black rat snakes rarely eat other snakes....but black racers a different genus...will eat other snakes on ocassion. Actually just saw a video of that too!
@@natureatyourdoor I just humanely caught some house mice and this baby Black Rat Snake has gotten in the house and into their cage twice now and don't know what to do. I am in SC and have three sheds outside all at least 10' x 12' with two at 10' x 16' and thought about releasing it in there because there are mice in them as well but thought that they would probably be too hot. Also by the way years ago I was walking my two tiny Chihuahuas and they started barking and wanted to run to see something which I thought was probably a deer I hadn't seen yet, after running over 100 feet we came to the edge of some Christmas Ferns and I looked down and thought I saw a two-headed snake of two different colors!!! I immediately got my Chis back in the house and went back to investigate but they were gone. I think now one must have been a Black Racer or King Snake but the other was definitely a Copperhead which are plentiful in this mountainous part of SC, the snakes were entangled and I think the black snake had the upper hand. If you can respond as to what to do I am @ Littlebit29605@aol.com and my name is Mark and I would really like a suggestion asap if possible but don't check RUclips very often, Thanks Mark
love it man, I work at a summer camp in Floyd and kids usually get nervous around the snakes. I love them and all summer have been encouraging kids to feel safe around them...
I've had black rat snakes around my cabin in NC for years! I've caught one several times that I name Boomerang because he always comes back! I've never been bitten by one!
I live in the mountains of WV ,I don't even kill copperheads,burns me up when a snake is in there natural habitat called the outdoors an people kill them.people are ignorant when it comes to snakes.their beautiful.
We have some very large Black Rat Snakes here on our homestead/mini farm in East TN. I found one in the egg laying box a couple years ago that was quite large; over 6' long. I had David take a picture of me holding it. It was a beauty. I held it for about a 1/2 an hour, then released it in the spiral garden area on the farm. It didn't come back to steal anymore eggs. ;) They also love living under the house in the insulation, which is great, and in the wood shed. They keep the mice and rats away. We often find snake skins hanging in the barn rafters.
Just found youand subbed after watching your video. Your students must've loved you so much! I homeschooled my youngest son, and one of our most memorable 'lessons' was the Black Snake. He lived under our country house. As long as he lived there; no mice in the house. One day, we had climbed the big tree in the front yard, looking for specimen to categorize and chart (by drawing it)...and we came face to face with our black snake. That's when we learned they were good cimbers. We called him Big Black. We started to leave him little treats up in the tree, which he always ate. Thanks for such an informative video! 🤗
I always tell people that nobody has been able to make a rat trap as good as that which nature has made. Most snakes can be found where people are because rats like our homes and food.
Growing up, I learned a whole bunch of wise tales about snakes. It's fun disproving all or most of them. Thanks Frank. Hey! That's a wonderful specimen you were holding, simply beautiful.
I've noticed a lot of talk on the internet lately about how black rat snakes do not kill copperheads, only black racers and king snakes do. I've been around regular black rat snakes all 50 years of my life here in the mountains of Carolina and I'm here to tell you.... Yes regular black rat snakes will kill and eat copperheads! I've witnessed it personally numerous times. We have a large 7 foot 3 incher ( we have several rat snakes, but this one has been on our farm for a little over 9 years now) we've named Mammoth, who actually prefers other snakes, frogs and especially small fish over rats and mice. It basically lives on the railing and the rafters of our hunting cabin porch down in our bottom land. When it's not resting around the cabin, it's hunting the banks of the pond in front of it for a meal. Over the years it has lived here we have personally witnessed it eating dozens of Northern banded water snakes, half a dozen copperheads, several garter snakes, 1 green snake and one young timber rattler (it did attempt to catch and constrict a hognose snake once on the road that goes down to the cabin, but for some reason it let it go pretty quickly and lost interest). It's favorite thing to eat is young bluegill, which it catches by laying across the dock and snatches them off the edge as they surface to eat bugs. If it can't catch a fish, it will work it's way up and down the banks looking for a frog or water snake, but fish is what it prefers. As far as describing the colorization of a black rat snakes life/growth cycle, you are spot on. You wouldn't believe the amount of people who have called me to come get a copperhead out of their house/building/garage, etc and it ends up being a juvenile black rat snake. It makes me sick to see them killed because we absolutely love our black snakes and know how valuable they are to the ecosystem. My son enjoys interacting with them so much, he's thinking about applying for the herpetology program at Clemson after he finishes highschool......
The algorithm just brought your channel to my attention. Two weeks ago, we were up at Galax, VA. Right next to Stewarts Creek WMA. We had a Black Rat snake, an Eastern Box turtle, and a Copperhead. It was wonderful.
We had Indigoes where I lived my early life, in South Dade County, Florida..They keep the rats away, or eaten, plus, rarely would see rattlers in our Avocado grove.I have seen them 7 feet long- great climbers, and fast on the ground
Yep.. an absolutely gorgeous snake. We had them in our front yard here in WPB. They get a LOT bigger than a black snake like you mentioned. We had one that was at least 9 feet long and probably 2 and half inch diameter at his thickest point. VERY friendly too. It would crawl uo on me to get warm and tell you what it had some weight too. My 2yo Great Granddaughter at the time used to pet it (right on its head it did not care). She asked if we could "keep" "him". Nope we didn't go there. They fed mostly on frogs we had plenty of food around for them! I assumed it was male due to its size but perhaps it was female. We had probably a dozen of them but this one was the largest. It definitely "knew" us too.
I lived in Texas county, Mo in the '90s and came upon a very large black rat snake, laying across a dirt road in the sun and adapting it's body to every part of the gravel texture. I got off the motorcycle and reached down to him and he pulled himself into a coil in an instant. I went on to scoop him up and took to my home where I let him loose in the house to stay for a couple days. Found him once coiled up in the sun under a window and on top of a basket of laundry. He crawled into our large kitchen and climbed up the back of our microwave caddy and up to the curtain rod, stretched out full length there. When I took him out to turn loose, he motioned that he wanted to climb trees we passed under. This experience is indelible for me, never thought I'd find a snake to be so accommodating and only tried to strike once, at the first spot on the road. He scanned my face with his tongue and by eye; I never had seen a snake able to move his eye orbit in order to see - really a gentle soul and interested in his captor. I'd handled many snakes before but this character won my appreciation like no other.
Great moment of human wildlife connections. You are absolutely first person I know to release a snake indoors! Hmmmmm. Sounds kinda fun. Don't think my wife would find that acceptable!
@@natureatyourdoor My wife looked on with cautious eyes. She'd become used to some adventures with wildlife, declared an interest some years before and we worked at an exotic animal park for a season. I don't recall her ever touching the snake but she was hands on with opossums which we had on occasion, raising young ones whose mothers had been killed on the road. The experience with the snake has more impact from memory now, I think, that it did at the time - it was just so cool and friendly. The animal was comfortable with handling though I didn't take it up often. He/she was an incredible guest, did not hide out of fear, just parked it's ~6' length in cozy spots.
these are quite a bit smaller than their Eastern Indigo counterparts. We used to have Indigo's in our front yard (they're probably still there but we moved). Indigo's are absolutely gorgeous especially after they first moat. Now this snake never stopped moving but Indigo's are not like that. They're perfectly content to lie perfectly still when you hold them (at least at times). this black snake is a LOT skinnier than an Indigo as well. yeah Indigo's can have some weight to them because they're the longest native snake of North America. Indigo's are super friendly and curious as well thus if you remain still and non threatening while holding your hand out they'll probably approach and take a sniff or even climb aboard. yeah, friendly & especially if they wanna get warmed up a bit (they like your bare skin). Finally they're absolutely no threat to bite you. the black snake probably has a similar disposition which is pretty obvious here.
I saw one last summer while I worked at a busy nature camp in MA. I was all alone when I saw it so no one believed me. It was so elegant and beautiful, about 4 feet long.
Last summer, I caught a six footer climbing my stucco garage wall, trying to get to some baby birds in a nest at the eave of my roof. It's amazing how well they climb!
I'm in Georgia and have them everywhere on my land. Saw one once laying in the road, his tail was across the middle yellow line and his head was going into the ditch. He was long, no doubt
I have always loved blacksnakes. They are one of the coolest snakes. When I was a kid there was an old building out in the woods where are black snake lived. He was always there when I would go in that building. He would let me pick him up and put him back. It was like he was my buddy.
I found out by accident that Black Snakes are climbers. I was out in Ohio at Guitar camp (Fur Peace Ranch) and I was out in the back field practicing when I saw a Black snake in a tree just about shoulder height. I was about 10 feet away from him (or her) and since the snake did not seem threatened, I just kept on playing for him. The snake stayed there for the entire time (30-40 minutes) I was out back there playing. I don't know if he enjoyed the music or not.
We had the same Black Snake around our house for years and I was always happy to see it because I knew it was doing it's job and protecting us from other vermon . When ever working away from home and would find a black snake I would take it home and release it there .
Black snakes provide a very valuable service as white legged field mice over populate most wood land even ole copper heads are more docile than people think just dont irritate a copperhead when its molting time when a copper heads eyes are pink he will strike at anything i had some really close calls back when i use to search for wild ginseng and i learned also rattle snakes dont always rattle before they strike
THEY are a amazing snake. I have one that comes in my garage every spring to shed, it's been 6 yrs. now. its right at 7 ft long. I've talked to all my neighbors and showed them photos of it and asks to please don't harm it for the good it will do for all of use now and in the future. It fixed my mouse problem I had in my garage 4 yrs ago but thats another story.
Here in Georgia we have the Eastern Indigo snake. I've heard they get up to 8.5 feet long. They make your black snake look like a worm. I remember once back in 2010 when I was living on my parents property. Their dogs alerted me to something by barking up a storm. When I went out to their pin. I was expecting to see a raccoon, opossum or an armadillo. There was the biggest snakes I ever seen. I estimated it to be at least 10 ft long. When the snake saw me or felt my vibration from my footsteps. Its tail was whipping and moving like greased lightning down a hole. When we moved the house there were numerous holes from rats. One was as wide as a softball. I guess I must have scared the snake as much as it scared me because we never saw it again.
Yep.. the Eastern Indigo can get BIG. its the longest native snake in North America AND have some weight on them as well. They are absolutely the most beautiful snake on the planet and completely harmless. We had the grace of having a number of them for years on our property. A few of them would come right up to me if I was sitting and crawl up on my lap for warmth. a VERY humbling experience I wanna tell you.
No, don't like snakes, not any kind . Won't be friends with a snake. Had to close a call with a Copperhead, didn't see no non venomous snake around to get rid. Don't buy that they are more scared of me, than me of it.
Have you introduced your viewers to the Worm Snake (Carphophis amoenus)? I happened to find one on the sidewalk in near my home here in Yorktown, VA. Very interesting snake and tottaly harmless with one exception, it may try to stab you with its tail. If you can and have an opportunity, please talk about this little guy. Thanks and love your channel.
I just got a worm snake yesterday! How crazy is that? ...will be filming this week then releasing! They ARE so cool! So glad to have you as a subscriber to my channel! Thanks for topic suggestion.
West Virginia is full with wonders in this category type reptile,we also have land lizards and land turtles as well water turtles. If you walk on wooded path anywhere in West Virginia you will find these beautiful creatures easily enough. The woods are a wonderland of nature and can teach so much to the human species of why we need woodland and nature for human survival. Birds of amazing colors also abound as do bobcats in trees sleeping a lazy, warm afternoon away. Ferns and wildflowers,with flowering trees in spring are a glorious sight to behold. It's such a pity that the loggers and gas frack drillers have destroyed so much of our beautiful wildlife for the love of greed and profit.😭
I got some nice pictures of a beautiful copperhead outside of a Denny's last month in western Maryland. It was between displaced blocks of the top, and 2nd row of a retaining wall, perched looking towards honeysuckle spilling over the top of the wall. I was absolutely thrilled!
I live in Northwest Florida on a little farm and I absolutely love all of my rat snakes that live under the shed and near the chicken coop. I have never had a problem with them hurting any of my small livestock or eating eggs. The only problem I have is occasionally during fig season one will get tangled in the bird netting and I will have to take the time to get it untangled. They are incredibly smooth to the touch and when I turn them loose, I am always shocked at how fast they can move !
Ha! Thanks man! Steep learning curve...i want to improve my visual with more clips! I love sharing doing this Darryl. Do you see me smile in every video...its because when I flip the on button I see you..my students in front of me ...like you are right there! Looking forward to following your new adventure man! You have great attitude one door closes..another opens...lets see what is behind that door that is just opening!
Frank Taylor thanks brother, I think the videos are very great. The editing is smooth, the information of very interesting and is easy to understand. The next science guy right here maybe. Great stuff my friend.
When we moved into our home in central Virginia I was exploring the back shed since the seller agreed to convey the zero turn mower and a snow blower. I noticed the snowblower had some weird handles. And the engine cover on the mower also looked odd. What I had walked into was a black snake feeding area. Mice were living in the friction plate area. Beaucoup mice. A regular buffet for the snakes. I removed about 5-6 black snakes. After cleaning out the mice the friction plate area in the snowblower I have not seen another black snake in the shed, but occasionally see them clinging to the sides of trees.
When we went to visit our aunt in Virginia people there would call every snake they see a Copperhead. One day when I was 15 years old I went out behind of one of her buildings where a pile of construction junk was dumped. I saw a Fence swift/ Blue Belly lizard. I wanted to catch it so I waited and waited for it to come back out so I could grab it. While waiting I noticed a fat snake about 3 feet from me sunning itself. It blended in perfectly with the oak leaves so it was hard to see it. I figured it must of been a corn snake but it was very fat. It had big wide bands that matched the oak leaves. After awhile I went and told my father about the snake and took him to the spot where I saw the snake. The snake was gone so we looked around for it and found it had gone into a large roll of roofing tar paper. We picked up the roll of tar paper and looked into it. Held it up and looked into the center of the roll and saw the snake. We shook and shook the roll of tar paper but the snake wouldn't come out. So we put the tar paper down and left. Later I realized that the snake wasn't a corn snake but a Copperhead. The lesson I learned was that if you want to get bitten by a snake is that you really have to work at it.
Ha! it is so true... locally i find same thing...every snake is a copperhead! Particularly any snake with a pattern like a juvenile rat snake. whooooooaaa! Great story! I guess sooner or later a copperhead will show up.
My friend's son is often running in the woods & while doing so, he was bitten. They said 30 minutes longer getting to the hospital & he would have died. I presume it had to bite b/c the 7year old was running & prob stepped on or to near the copperhead. I don't think the snake was hunting her son...
Thank you for the great detailed information on a REALLY cool critter , I hope your in depth explanation of their coloration and ability to mimic venomous snakes when agitated might save some from being killed.............
Thank you for this excellent information. This is our 3rd yr living in Va and we have a 48”-50” black snake that occupies our basement in the winters. I let him be to keep the rodents away. He’s gone when the weathers nice.
I love this video! I myself have a weird love and interest in snakes and I don’t do it around my children but I used to love handling snakes and it horrified and embarrassed my now husband. Anyways we have a couple large black rat snakes living in our yard and love seeing them but yesterday we came home to the younger one who lives in a hole in our mulch wrapped around our go kart and must have got stuck in our garage before we left for the store and It scared my 4 year old so bad because he was not expecting it and I could not calm him down so this video really helped him understand more about the rat snake and also helped him develop a respect and love for snakes like I have. My neighbors kill them and it makes me so sad and all think I am crazy for being okay with them being on our property but we live next to the woods so I am happy they keep rodents away and enjoy running into this harmless predator. Strangely they are very calm around me but show a more aggressive side with my husband and even rattle the tail like a rattle snake and coil up when they feel threatened
I remember when this was Elaphe obsoleta. So you know I'm pretty old. This has always been one of my favorite pet snakes due tot their easiness of handling, care and feeding. Their climbing ability is greatly aided by their ability to form a ridge at the junction of their belly scutes and their body scales. Most snakes of their size cannot do this. In the 1960's I found several large trees that were regularly used by multiple snakes as bases from which they launched their daily activities. If you wanted to catch larger specimens , you could wait for them to descend from their perches in the morning and try to catch them just before they escaped into surrounding woodlands. These trees were reliable snake havens from year to year.
I had 6 Silkie chicks, too big to be eaten, sitting together on top of a cage. Later that afternoon, found all dead having been spit out by black snake. Same with a nest of bunnies. Thanks for video!
Hi Frank this about 10 times now ive watched my favorite biology teacher. And your teaching about a critter that i really like. They are awsome and very docile. God bless teach. Pennsylvania Jeff.
Snakes eat slugs! I was living in Western WA where the only snakes were garter snakes. They would startle me when I was working in the garden when they scurried away. I learned to appreciate them when I spotted one with a huge slug in it’s mouth. Believe me when I say ‘huge’! We had Banana slugs that were six inches long!
Great video! I am here because I just saw Black Snake shaking his tail like a Rattlesnake, and even coiling up to strike. I thought it was pretty funny and he sure didn't fool me!
I had one show up in my house last Sunday morning. Not sure how it found it's way in, but it was very well behaved after it learned I wasn't going to hurt it. I let it go in a wooded area next to a lake. Very pleasant creators.
Glad you had such a good experience with a snake...inside your house! Oh gosh. Just me creating this channel..thanks for kind words. Check out my snake playlists for more good content!
I once camped at Walker Lake Nevada where I saw a Gopher snake expand the back of its head and wiggle its tail as you described in the video. It crawled under a large rock only to reemerge a short time later looking like a regular old Gopher snake.
I live on 14 wooded acres in eastern NC, black snakes in the garden and sometimes on our porch while we're sitting out there. I've seen them scale the side of my house, in my garage and int the woods. They kill copperheads out here too, just saw that a few years ago. I did not know about them changing the shape of their heads, new one on me. And I've seen gopher snakes imitate rattlers but never a black snake. Learned something new, I appreciate the info.
In western Carolina I personally experienced working outside of my house and getting the body notification and watched a 4” Copperhead running from a 5ft Beautiful Black Snake! 🇺🇸
Grew up with them. After work walking up my driveway, bent down to pickup a stick. It had a head. Noticed it had a big lump in his belly, good job buddy! Oh, 5 footer.
We had a 4-5 foot black snake living in the crawlspace under our house for several years and never had mice in the house during that time. But, when the snake left, we had mice again. And I never saw that snake the entire time it was in the crawlspace. Only the skin it left behind. I miss that snake. I got a photo of one on a branch in a pine tree after his "date" with a lady friend. What a huge smile he had.
I had a small farm on top of a high ridge in Western WV some years back, I didn't have any neighbors close by and the snakes in the area seemed to congregate at my place. It was true that if there was a large black snake in the barn I wouldn't see any copperheads, if there wasn't a black snake I would always see copperheads. After nearly getting hit a few times, if there wasn't a black snake I would catch a large one on the road to take home to put in the barn. I had a 7+ footer once that stayed for a few years and became quite tolerant of me, even letting me pick her up. She would always be around when I was working on the truck or machinery as the toolboxes were open and she was interested in what was in them, after rodents I suppose. I didn't mind the occasional egg she took from the chicken boxes, she was a good friend.
What a great share!!!😃😃😃
awesome story - read it here in ivydale WV. :D
I'm scared of snakes but I left the 2 five footers alone I found in my back yard. Reason one is because I believe that they were a couple and the other reason is I haven't seen any rodents or copperheads since they arrived
@@petewiltfang Good for you!
I have encountered many snakes; without exception, they will leave you alone if you leave them alone. I only fear that I may step on an unseen snake and provoke a strick.
What was its name?
I watched this video two days ago(6/21/22). Today, I was visiting my mother, who lives in Southern New Jersey, and my niece comes running into the house yelling, "snake! snake!" I went outside to investigate and found a black rat snake. I repeated everything I learned from this video, especially the part about it being a good snake. What was really interesting was that I saw and heard him vibrating his tail, which I explained was their response to feeling threatened. They all think I am a snake expert. I'm a subscriber now.
This is the best comment I have ever read! Love being able to EMPOWER my viewers!
I think you have a cool head on your sholders , i am in awe of you ! 😱
Thanks
I had no idea about the head and rattling.
Gerlinde
We had one in our barn. We called him oscar. He was friendly to us. We treated him like our dog as a big pet.
😊😎!
I was in my shed, picked up a box and a four footer scurried out past me. After running in place for a few seconds, startled, I saw it was a black snake and let him stay where he was. No mice in my shed!
Had one in my chicken house. When he moved in the rats that had been killing my chickens disappeared. He was a wonderful addition as the barn was alongside the chicken house. Much better than a cat. He got an egg now and then but I figured he had it coming. He, by the way, was my childish reference. Thanks for your great information.
When my dad was young, he would pick them up and put them in his pocket. It got so bad my grandmother would make him empty his pockets before she allowed him in the house.
5:42
I'm 65 and somewhat of an amateur herpetologist. Having grown up in Florida and encountering practically every species of venomous reptiles, insects and fish , I still don't understand why some folks refuse to educate themselves in order to dispel fears and misunderstanding and also to preserve species vital to the ecosystem.
Your posts are professional, accurate and informative! I only wish more people would take the time to view and learn.
Thanks for the shout out! Lol..I proudly just turned 67 and am not a Herpetologist but more a jack of all nature trades. Of course I agree with everything you said. We can both try to keep educating!
I own a 100 acre farm here in Northeast Georgia,and I have a high population of black snakes and King snakes on my property,and I encourage this.They are great at keeping down rodents,and keeping other snakes out.There are some wetter areas on my property,and I have a pond,but yet for all the time Ive been here,13yrs and not counting the times I spent here growing up,I've only saw two copperheads,and three baby rattlesnakes,but as I said,I have a lot of king snakes on the property as well.I also live in a house that is over 100 yrs old,and I have occasionally had a black snake show up in my house,and always find a shed in my attic,but see very few nice and rats,except for a year that I was invaded by rats.All the being said,I'm not a fan of snakes,but I do everything possible to allow these two snakes to live and thrive on my property,and will damn near fight anybody that kills one.They are a true asset to have around.
So awesome...i just relocated a 5 ft black snake in a friends that came into eat her birds! And just did a soon to,be relwased episode called "5 reasons NOT to fear or kill black snakes. Your comment read like my script. I wish I could have interviewed you!
Was doing some remodeling work on a bathroom and had a black snake come in and take a canary with young off the nest. Also had them get in the pigeon loft and kill a about twenty pigeons in one day. I do tolerate them, but still get very annoyed with their bs. I love birds.
@@scottowensbyable of gosh...i love birds too!! Hate that so sorry,
I live in the country too in an old house. Had a baby black snake wiggle across my way as I was making my way to the livingroom with my coffee. 😮 I'm female and live alone . So my question is where might this fella be hiding?
@@redtickhoundI would suggest making a couple of small closed boxes with a small hole in one side with a clean jar lid filled with water inside. I would put them on the floor right against walls as snakes are likely to follow along walls. Check them in the morning to see if the cute little thing is curled up inside and if it is, let it go outside away from your house. Good luck!
My neighbor across the street called me in a panic that there was a snake on her side porch trying to get at a birds nest. I walked over and saw it was a small black snake and simply picked it up and relocated it to the wood line. I thought she (the neighbor) was going to pass out as she screamed "OMG he picked it up!!!"
Ha! Lol. Toooooooo funny! I can see it now!
I got divorced and had to move into a total fixer upper. I completely gutted the house for a total rewiring and replumb. I was installing black flexible gas lines and had the pieces and parts everywhere. I got tired about 2am and crashed in my clothes, woke up the next morning starving. I didn’t have any appliances there yet, so I brought over a chest freezer and a small microwave to make quick meals. I had some frozen pancakes, sausages, O.J. and egg bowls so I groggily went to the chest freezer and there all around was the gas line stuff, some of it laying on top of the chest freezer. Again very groggy, I moved and pushed stuff off the top and retrieved the food items, and with my hands full, I had the frozen pancakes bag in my teeth and a sausage pack under one arm. I used the top of my head to hold the freezer top open, so when I backed away with my hands & mouth full, the lid plopped down. Now that always made a certain sound and I didn’t hear it that time, so I lifted it with my left elbow… Damn, some of the black flexible gas line had slid over in between the lid and the chest. Dang it! I rearranged the stuff I was holding and with my left hand, frustratingly grabbed the “black flexible gas line” to flip it out and away….
I think ya all can figure out by now that it wasn’t “black flexible gas line”…
I’m now biologically 10 years older than the age on my D.L. 😂
Omg, omg, omg,..lolololol. thanks for share! 😄😁😆😅🤣😂🙂🙃
K9
@@natureatyourdoor
I live in a dilapidated cottage I have been slowly fixing up when finances allow. It was infested with mice when I bought it. I've managed to reduce their numbers way down but I still have a bad problem with mice and nothing seemed to eliminate them. They've ruin 2 stoves, 1 refrigerator and made a couple couches a metropolis. An exterminator said there are hundreds of ways they are getting in. I'm slowly fixing the old place up and closing off entrances. A couple years ago a few black snakes got into my place. It freaked me out at first because I have dogs. Within two weeks I did not have anymore mice! The mice still get in when the weather get cold and become problematic over the winter but come late spring I notice mice dropping disappear and I stop hearing the noisy mice at night. (Whoever said quiet as a mouse, never had them.) I never see the black snakes anymore but I certainly know they are on the job! Just wish they would hang around all year!
Great story! Thanks for sharing with me and viewers...enriches the channel experience! Good luck with those mice!
LOVE IT! I am a PATC trail maintainer of the Appalachian Trail near Bears Den. I use to be afraid of snakes. Now I enjoy seeing all the snakes. Especially the black snake. I saw a black snake decapitated and laid beside the trail. Broke my heart as black snakes are "good guys." Thanks for educating more people about black snakes. I have shared your video with as many people as possible. Long live the "panther snake."
Panther Snake! 😊 Thanks for share! Ck out my copperhead video I just released!
Btw I did four episodes while hiking through Bear a Den! Co out the stump mushroom and my green snake episode..and box turtle..and black snake route..all filmed on your section of trail. (I just finished section hiking all of VA AT! Thanks for your work on the trail!
I am 65 years old and, since my mid 20s, it has always been my habit to learn at least one new thing every day. I predict many student hours in front of your videos in the future. Thanks for posting these!
Ha! That is awesome ...I am learning everyday as well! Be sure to check out my playlists for more great content. I try to include lesser known and unique facts in every presentation!
That's awesome. Be sure to check out my playlists! I try to learn something new everyday as well...then share it on my channel!
I was never one to cozy up to snakes but after many years of living in the real back woods of South Carolina I learned this snake is your pal. I’ve never see a single mouse in a very large barn and two other farm buildings .. I do see the mother load of black snakes and they are doing a great job keeping mice in check.. I’ve actually picked a couple up that we’re to close to the road or machinery and they are pretty laid back if you handle them like this gentlemen is.. Happy their around!
Great to hear about your experiences and how your relationship with the outdoors has grown with your time in "the real back woods!" Ha! Thank you for your nature stewardship!
Mother lode.
Happy they’re around.
I'd rather have mice than black snakes any day.
@@KenG557 Your one weird guy Mr.Virginan.
@@mwillblade Yeah, people who are afraid of snakes are really weird.
I once had dozens of photos of a Black Rat Snake I caught In our Old outhouse on my grandparents estate. When I released It, I took it far into The woods (My mother had an unnaturally intense fear of snakes) and held Him up to a tree. In seconds, The snake slithered up High and onto a branch. It's utterly amazing to watch a creature That has no limbs, claws, or anything sticky, climb up a tree With expert ease! Lots of snakes climb surprisingly good. Just ask anyone who's ever encountered a rattlesnake living in an eagle's nest!🙀😱😵💫
Yes! They are fantastic climbers! Check out my video "what can a black snake climb"? (See my black snake playlist for more) 🙂
Rattlesnakes and Copperheads both climb. I see it.
@gretafields4706 wow! Amazing! Thanks for sharing your observations...I will have to take note of that! Just wow!
Great!! I am 65 yr old woman and have loved snakes my whole life. I would never harm any unless I thought it or they would be dangerous to my grandchildren. Thank you for sharing very valuable information.
Hi Kimberly! Great to meet you ..you have a great attitude about snakes and obviously all things nature.
good for you, Kimberly my spouse was deathly afraid of just about everything. We used to have Sand Hill Cranes walk right up to us looking for a handout and she would not even come outside while they were around! Ironically they left the Indigo's alone probably because I fed them instead (Sand Hills are omnivorous). Yeah Sand Hill's go after snakes but they left ours alone. My Great Granddaughter used to pet both the Sand Hill's AND the snakes! She's now 17yo and has a pet Dragon, a dog, & a rabbit that she adores. What do animals teach us? Love...
Thank you for that good info about black snakes! I had a few encounters with black snakes in Indiana and Illinois. I never hurt them. In fact I enjoyed the encounter and the one in southern Illinois seemed to be as curious about me as I was of it. I was in a wooded area and it slowly came straight toward me. I crouched down and began speaking to it in a low friendly tone and held my hand out toward it. It slowly came to my hand and felt a finger tip with it's forked tounge and then slowly turned away. An awesome experience.
Yes. Very cool experience!
I had to get one of these out of my uncles barn one time and the grip strength they have is unbelievable, such amazing and friendly snakes.
The grip strength is fascinating!
Copperheads are scarily strong as well, much to my surprise but the last one I relocated because of my tiny Chihuahuas and their fearlessness of anything, no matter what size. I used to kill the Copperheads but have never seen any rattlers although I know they are in the area.
I saw one copperhead in my 41 years living in South Eastern PA. It was laying on a hiking trail, getting sun, and my hiking partner at the time stepped over it, startling it, and it smacked itself into her leg as it was trying to get out of there. It had no interest in messing with us. I tried to warn her ahead, but there wasn't enough time. I've seen tons of Black Snakes, and some have been a good six feet long, but they've always been well tempered. Sometimes they're at eye level in the trees. The garter snakes are far more aggressive generally. I've had one strike at me from the side of our sidewalk. I loved your video Mr. Taylor.
Thanks so much and thanks for your share!
Garters stink as well. But they are also very pretty. my favorite though is the Eastern Indigo. What a beautiful snake they are AND very docile. They are not at all aggressive and may even approach a stretched out hand especially if they wanna get warmed up a bit. They're quite a bit larger than a black snake though. We had them in our yard (before we moved) and they'd crawl right up on me as I sat on our porch. They weren't figidity like this snake is. At least not once they got to know you. They'd even allow you to pet their head I'd Iike to think they enjoyed the touch. They are also on the threatened list (unlike the black snake) thus its illegal to intentionally harm them in any way. I even taught our dogs to leave them be and they accepted them.
@@leecowell8165 Wow, that sounds incredible. I'd like to see one of them sometime. I'm all over the US, so hopefully I'll get lucky one of these days. That reminds me of our Koi we had years ago. They would come when called, and some of the older ones would come by name, but in all fairness they were spoken to many more times. Very intelligent animals, and I believe there are many intelligent animals. We're just not very good at being the judge. It seems like that is changing, slowly.
I'm at 2200' in the Virginia Blue Ridge. I had a 7'6" black rat snake in my walkable crawl space for 2 years. I have 4' fluorescent fixtures on the walls and he lived on top of two of them, nearly extending the entire 8'. At first he did frighten me by rattling some debris and sheet metal very convincingly. I let him stay with the idea that he would eat rodents, but this was a mistake. He barely ate enough to justify his keep and he pooped on everything. I tried to feed him an egg n a spoon but he just recoiled away from it, though my snake book said that they'd eat eggs in captivity. I do have rattlers and copperheads and believed that they don't get along with black rat snakes, another reason he was welcome, but you've disabused me of that myth. Thanks for the enlightening video.
You are welcome and thanks for sharing your black snake story! If the snake is pooping that much you must have a lot of rodents!
Same. I had a pair of large black racers take up residence in my basement. Then they somehow made their way up into my walk in attic space too. In the course of a year they tore up ALL my insulation before I even realized it. Yes pooping all over the place. I couldnt figure out what was happening until one finally got himself stuck on a glue trap in the attic for the mice. He croaked. Cost me $185 to have it removed. A month later my upstairs still stinks to high heaven from this PEST! No offense but I HATE snakes!! Ive now spent over $1000 on pest and wildlife control this Summer due to these ‘oh so friendly “helpful” (not!) snakes. Caught 2 more in my basement and 2 others trying to get in and one enjoying my front porch. They’re all in snake ‘heaven’ now. 🤷♀️ I will be more proactive in the future. Bird net has become my best friend all around the house and exterior doors! Next I have to replace all the damaged insulation. 😢
Just found a baby on the front porch. I moved it over to the side of the yard over the fence away from my cats. I love snakes & am always excited to see them. Rat snakes are great to have around!
Yes they are great to have around! I am waiting to come a cross a juvenile! I want to do a side by side comparison with a copperhead! I get so many messages and photos from people that tell me they killed a copperhead! 100 percent of reports sent to me ...it was always a juvi black snake or milk snake! Thanks for watching and taking time to comment! !
@@natureatyourdoor that’s really too bad. I wish more ppl would take the time to familiarize themselves w/ snakes so they can identify a non poisonous one vs a poisonous one. I’ve lived out here for over 20 yrs & have only seen a poisonous snake (cotton mouth) maybe 2xs. The rest have always been rat snakes, green garden, red bellied sliders etc. I found another baby today on the back porch! Guess a nest hatched somewhere nearby?
There used to be a ton of wildlife out here & lots of space. But it’s been growing fast anymore these days
@@jilligain3409 your cat is probably killing 10 of those snakes for every snake that you see. Maybe not but they’re little monsters…
I love your channel Frank!. I live in the center of southern Indiana in a farming area with woods. We have abundant Black Rat Snakes now but didn't when we started our homestead; we had abundant mice. We live in a log home and have an external garage which have both become a preferred hangout for Rat Snakes. The garage currently has 6 or 7 molted skins hanging from the garage door rails and 1 or 2 from the porch eaves. My wife first spied one in the house when she was doing dishes; it slid across the cabinet and up and around the window frame (the dishes were waiting for me to finish when I got home). I later found a molted skin that covered the length of our piano keyboard. Mice have been getting scarce for some reason... I like these harmless critters!
Black Snake Haven! 😊👍 Glad you enjoy my channel
I had an everglades rat snake as a pet for several years. Kinda ill tempered when I got her because she wasn't handled much by the breeder but she tamed down so well I could let her out in a room full of people & she would visit every person there. She loved going across heads & thru eyeglasses & exploring pockets. She even refused to bite me in full feeding response by then. Now I have a black rat(people call em chicken snakes here) living in my attic & taking advantage of the mice that visit from my field. Best mouse trap around. I've fed captive rattlesnakes & copperheads & the mice seem to suffer much more from the venom than they ever did from a hit & wrap from my rat snake. Needless to say I prefer rat snakes or any constrictor over venomous snakes because of that.
Yup! Great snakes!
I understand why people have exotic pets and you have every right in the world to do so!! Personally I feel that snakes and other exotics should be left to the wild to do what they are meant to do!
I had a parakeet in high school and it lived past my years in college and my parents took care of him until his death a few years later. When I think of the sweet little bird I think what a shame it was he had to live in a cage for close ten years, without ever feeling really free or having the other birds around to bond with…just saying 😢
@user-go3qk5yf4l that does sound good in theory & I'm fully in favor of leaving wild things wild. It's not uncommon for me to encounter a whitetail fawn that's been "abandoned". Usually if I send it back where mom left it mom shows up in an hour or so. Too many people don't understand how that works & assume a baby alone is motherless. Deer, unlike human babies, can run almost as fast as mom within hours of birth & can be left alone much longer than human babies or wolves, cats etc... so I expect mom to return. Animals born in captivity though are a different matter & my rat snake was captive born. She was acclimated to humans when I got her & became very friendly to visitors, much like my Labrador Retriever.
I live in an area where walking horses are very popular. I've been around them & the shows for them most of my life. I don't like the way they're trained & really don't care for most people involved in the walking horse business. But having been so close to them I also know those horses are better cared for than most people. In the same way, most pets get better care than they would ever get in the wild. Being born in captivity typically doesn't allow survival instincts to develop like they would out of necessity if wild born. Debating merits of domestication is another discussion entirely but my point here is wild things are better left wild & captive things are better cared for since they have much less ability to survive in the wild. We did this to them, now it's our responsibility to care for them unless/until we wise up & stop domesticating things that should be wild.
@@bjdog42 , I’m sure you realize in that case and in caring for lame or animals that need care, I would do the same. The word pet is really what I’m talking about and if you read your post, I don’t believe you mentioned the snake was your pet. I’m pretty sure we probably think more alike than differently. Honestly, I still feel we should leave wild and exotics to the wild, unless for some reason they need our help & attention for injuries or misfortune. Wild and exotics more times than not, end up in sewers, small cages or somewhere unbefitting for the beautiful animal they were intended to be…
@user-go3qk5yf4l I didn't say pet specifically but I did say I got her from a breeder. Good breeders(and this one was) only deal with captive born animals. Everglades snakes aren't native to my area(not that I would expect you to know that) but the wild black rat that lives in my attic is so I only handle it on the rare occasions when it visits. There's also a great horned owl that has set up a post near me & I'm happy to see it but I don't bother it. Humans can & do live close to wild things without interfering with them & I do. Yes, we probably agree on many things. I haven't had another pet snake for almost 25 years & don't plan to get any more but she taught me a great deal about snake behavior which I appreciate still. Have a great day!
I absolutely love this video!! Thank you so very much! We live on a farm and have a 6 to 7 foot black snake that happily roams about on the farm. They’re so great to have around.
Most recently I found a young black rat snake along the top of a restored outhouse on our property. It was simply hanging out at the top of the wall and under the over hang. “He” just hung out watching me plant some peppermint.
Again, thank you so very much for this video
Awesome to hear from someone with such a great attitude about snakes! And thank you for sharing with our learning community your experiences! I am hoping to do an episode on juvenile blacksnakes and compare them to copperheads which saddly and always surprises me are mistaken for copperhead and killed!
Great video. Thank you for educating people on our helpful friends in our backyard.
Hi AKTrapper! Yes.. Your words "our helpful friends in our backyard" ...great way to express it! Thanks for commenting..appreciate you! Hope you stay connect with us here at NAYD. I love connecting to my viewers!
Wish you were one of my high school biology teachers! Thanks for the knowledge! Just found one on my back porch and now I'm happy to have him!
Awe! Thank you! Glad you enjoy my shares!
Very informative. I encountered an adult black snake in Virginia this evening and just wanted to learn more about them. Long live black snakes.
Yes! Sooooooo glad you wanted to learn more about it. So someone on Facebook had killed two..laid em out
.then asked if they were COPPERHEADS! oh geeze. SMH!
So crazy what you said about the snake vibrating it's tail when you opened the container bc my babe has a corn snake and we were in the reptile room he has and we literally heard her rattle and we were both like WTF.. we looked it up and it said that yes they can in fact do that 😁.. please continue making videos just found you but I am loving ALL the videos.. you make everything so interesting when most are SOOO boring 🤣.. thanks again
Hi Jen! Thank you for kind and encouraging words! And welcome to my channel! I am grateful you found me! Yes...this behavior is fascinating! So what came first...tail vibrating or rattles?
I had a mice and rat problem then suddenly it went away. Got up one morning to find a black rat snake on my walkway so I named him George and was careful about not interfering with his activity. I think for one reason or another George is no longer around, I miss that guy and for any of you black snakes out there you would be more than welcome to take up resident on my 15 acres😊
Thanks for share! I hope you get another george show up soon?
Perfect! 5 stars. Have one that lives in my attic. Simply the best ratter ever! Call her Midnight. Beautiful snake.
Thank you!
@@natureatyourdoor No problem. I think what gets to me is ppl ignorance of snakes. All this info at your fingertips.... And still ppl will kill a black snake. I got into it..... Pretty heated argument over this subject. Seems like no matter what i do he still is scared to death of snakes.
@@Dtag1971 I hear you man. I hear you.
@@natureatyourdoor Well.... U aint gonna believe this. Working the flea market this weekend my wife and I rescued a 4 foot black snake. Of course they were gonna kill it. Crowd of ppl...untill I showed up. Boxed her up and brought her home and released her in the attic. If there is a way I would like to send u a short video of my wife handling the snake. She was so gentle with her. No fear at all!
@@Dtag1971 that is incredible! Yes...go to my vnature at your door" Facebook page and you can post under "visitor" tab! Love to see it!
I have one that lives in my Attic, I'm terrified of snakes BTW, but since I was gutting and remodeling my house room by room, we ran into each other pretty regularly and I ended up naming it Snoop the Snake.
Snoop the snake works! 😊
These Black snakes are my favorite!! I’ve had the pleasure of seeing many.
This is a great video!!!!
The best snake ever! Did you see my most recent black snake video?
I’m very pleased you corrected the ‘poisonous’ reference. If you were here in Australia I don’t think you would be handling our black snake, Pseudechis porphyriacus, which is one of our large number of venomous elapids. Mind you, our red-bellied blacks are not inclined to bite unless they feel very threatened, though being picked up would probably be a sufficient threat. Like many elapids they flatten their necks as a warning sign. It’s not quite as impressive as a cobra, but quite impressive all the same.
Thanks for cool share from Australia! 🇦🇺 :-)
Nothing Beats your Alls Tiapan!!! Nothing!, quite literally the Most Venomous snake 🐍 of all Time! 😯😬Thank Goodness the Fear snake lives out in the middle of Nowhere!, NOW COULD YOU IMAGINE If The Tiapan had the Attitude & disposition of a Black Mamba??? That's Really what makes it the Dangerous on the planet, because of its Nervousness & Agression! But Yeah have fun in the land Down Under!, considering you guys have 11 of the most Dangerous snakes in the world, I've Watched plenty of Steve Irwins videos!, HE IS MISSED DEARLY!!!!👍💯😔😢
I have an eight foot one living in my outbuildings near Raleigh NC. I know he is eight foot because it let me measure him with a tape measure. Very docile, it will hang out in the rafters and actually move to where I'm working in the shop. I'm not a big snake fan but it is most welcome to live in my barns. It has its own den in the corner of one.
Another model example of peaceful coexistence! Thanks for share!
I'm in Raleigh too. I was a manager with one of the area home rental companies. We had an eviction in Garner(suburb) and the departing resident released 24 snakes in the home. While I was in the home taking pictures of the damage and trash left behind, things started moving. I realized what was causing the movement and decided to go outside for awhile. That was a real surprise! Finally went to a neighbor and asked if they knew about the snakes and the neighbor said her son visited the house often and all the snakes were non-venomous. We left the doors open for a couple of days and most (I'm guessing) left of their own accord, but one afternoon I got a call from a lady screaming at me in Spanish. Turns out a couple of the snakes had taken up residence under the dishwasher and she "found" them while cleaning the home. I don't speak a word of Spanish but I understood exactly what she was telling me to do to myself if I thought she was going back into the house. Good times.
that's awesome...
Wow! Very informative. While hiking the Appalachian Trail in June of 2023 in Virginia, I saw a black snake that was different than the other two black snakes I saw. It was up in a tree, maybe 7 feet long, shiny slick black, and had a large segmented head. Its head seemed to track me as I climbed over a fence style. It had a very ominous demeanor. The other black snake was 4 feet long and had a white belly, and the third black snake was jet black and was on the ground and looked similar to the black snake in this video.
You might have seen a black racer!!
Male's are bigger than the female
I’ve got a big rat snake that lives in my shed. She’s my buddy! I have to move her every now and then, and she’s very docile. I get rat snakes off the road all the time, and I’ve only run into one that had an attitude. It thought it was a king cobra lol
I’m in Kentucky, and we have coppers all over. I see them in my tree line all the time. I leave them alone, they leave me alone.
Juvenile rat snakes don’t look like coppers at all! Copperheads have a ‘Hershey kiss’ on their sides.
Awesome William! Funny story about that ONE black snake. I agree....juvi get snakes don't look ANYTHING like Copperheads but sooooo many people kill them automatically because they see a PATTERN! I am hoping to do a juvi vs copperhead video this fall! I have been in the forest for 60 years and have yet to see a copperhead! Crazy! How reliably can you come across Copperheads in your neck of the woods? I would love to come down and film them...i am on southwest VA!
You’re sure it’s copperheads in the trees?
Or do you just mean on the ground in the tree line?
@@natureatyourdoor no way you have been in the woods that long.. your knowledge says yes but your looks say no way.. very handsome 😁
Black snakes are benevolent snakes, please nvr kill one...
They are the best! One of best snake personalities i think! They are so calm!
I caught a very young one a few days ago in our kitchen. He was aggressive at first but calmed down a lot once I could release his head. One thing I learned from videos like yours is how important it is to support the snake, which I did then. He was still wild but was not trying to bite. I released him outside. A bit strange that he was out and about in the middle of November though.
Yes...so many snakes will chill out in a few minutes..,whoa..that is very late to see one!
I was climbing up a rock face in Connecticut with my wife when I came over an edge and was face to face with a rat snake. Obviously my first reaction was to back off. But then I went over what I'd seen. I realized it was just a rat snake and honestly I was just super stoked. I swear she just barely raised her head and I almost heard her say, "What's up?" So we carefully climbed past her and I apologized for disturbing her midday respite. Beautiful creatures. Thanks for giving us their latin name. That is indeed suer cool.
Great personal experience photo share! I enjoy climbing too...check out my switzerland Playlist for climbing adventure videos!
You were 80% correct about everything you stated. By the way, this was a great video!! I’m very glad you made this, so people can see how docile a wild caught Blacksnake can act. The one and ONLY thing you didn’t get right (in my opinion), is a hungry Blacksnake will devour a Rattlesnake or Copperhead easily and without a second thought!! I’ve walked up on a large female Blacksnake in the wild eating a Copperhead and it had no problem doing it. I also knew a local guy who collected snakes that fed his almost 7.5ft pet Blacksnake Copperheads and Rattlesnakes on a fairly regular basis. He had everything from all the local snakes of the Southern U.S. to several types of Cobras and an extremely wide variety of Pit Vipers, from many different foreign countries. He would feed nuisance male Rattlesnakes and male Copperhead’s from around his property to his giant female Blacksnake, just to give her something different in her diet. He lived around a rock quarry and when they would dynamite the mountainsides, those huge vibrations would send the snakes down from the hills and they’d come down into the neighboring housing areas. He would come home after work to find snakes all over his yard and in many neighbors yards, just coiled up and lying around. That’s why a said ‘nuisance’ males. The females were always taken back to the edge of the woods, in the same direction of the quarry. I’m 100% with you on venomous snakes not being a preferred part of their diet, so to speak, but they will no doubt eat those two varieties without hesitation!! Seeing a 7 foot Blacksnake overpower a 3.5 foot Rattlesnake is something I’ll never forget.lol I thought for sure the Rattlesnake would win….man was I so wrong! She over powered him so quickly he didn’t stand a chance. Not even a slight chance. Blacksnake’s are very cunning and if they smell food like a birds nest, mouse nest, etc they will go to great lengths to get to that food. The only part that can be kinda sad is when they gorge themselves to the point that they fall out of trees, or off of buildings. They get so full they cannot articulate their bodies, from eating an entire nest!! The only thing I would add to your video other than the surprising amount of venomous snakes they will eat, would be to tell those people who are afraid of Blacksnakes -Blacksnakes and Rat snakes do their business and they they generally move on. They will sometimes hang out a season or two, but when food supply runs out, they will quickly move on. So, if you see a Blacksnake on your property, in your barn, in an old car, etc on your property, just leave it be. It’s doing you BIG favors and you don’t even realize it!! From lowering the population of birds to completely annihilating the rat and mouse populations you may have and not even know about. The damage that mouse and rat populations and over even very large populations of birds can cause can get seriously out of hand. A lot of damage can be done to your property, by any one of those animals and very quickly i might add!! Mice and rats love to chew. Especially on wires, cables, your pets food, your food, and in general gnawing on anything to grind down their ever growing teeth!! Snakes are hardly even noticed if at all. Just leave them be, let them do their job and they’ll leave usually before a single season has passed. If one stays around, then that clearly tells you there’s a plentiful food source. Again, by being around, it’s doing you HUGE favors by at minimum, keeping populations of any nuisance rodents down. Again, GREAT VIDEO!! Thank you, for trying to save the lives of a much unappreciated snake!
Wow! Thanks for sharing your story and experience with me and our viewers!
Great video.
I live in North Carolina and a few years back me and five grown men were playing frisbee golf near the nuclear plant in Raleigh and we came across a hognose snake. None of us had ever seen one. It reared up, flattened its head and started hissing violently. Scared the crap out of all of us, it looked like a little cobra. Had to Google that one. Turns out, if we just approached it, it would’ve played dead. One of the most interesting guys I ever came across. Very cool.
Ha! He sure fooled you lol! Yes..absolutely amazing behaviors!
I have a 5 ft, at least 5ft long black snake that shows up every spring in one of the bulkheads in my garage…a couple yrs ago I was walking in the door and right above the door was a massive snake head….he’s in there mousing I’m sure. Really cool looking dude
Hey Mr Smith your snake sounds really awesome! Impressive!
I'm very glad to see this. We just had a snake show up from a hole in our house that I identified as this pantherophis alleghaniensis (though told my mother black rat snake to keep it simple) which made me pretty happy because I love snakes very dearly :3
goog luck with your black snake! :-)
@@natureatyourdoor Yeah, the big guy is rather shy it seems. Came out twice in the past 5 or so days. We did kinda scare it those two times though. Hopefully he comes out one more time for us to get it and see what's the best choice for it.
I used to live in a trailer park in Glen Allen,a very large black had been seen by me 2 times.Body of snake the size of my forearm,and seen it support it's head more than a foot off the ground like a cobra,I had named it Clide but other than observe it left alone.
Wow! What a magnificent snake! thanks for share! Check out my latest episode next saturday with a five footer I rescued.
I have one around that was about 6 ft long. Used to sit around the dog bowl and wait for birds. Named Jake.
@@james44mag31 too cool!!!
Growing up on the west coast of British Columbia, I used to occasionally see all black snakes which we called "racers" as they could move very quickly. I'm not sure if they were related to these black snakes though.
There is a black racer species! 😃
Living in Tennessee back woods, country, we had a huge Black Snake. He would stand up at least 3 ft. And almost look you in the eyes. We had minimal problems with mice. Amazingly, I, being highly fearful of snakes, found myself feeling protection of a sort.
So cool! 😎
It's quite a stretch to like them.
I recall while working on a tobacco farm as a kid in North Carolina. The episode goes like this.A kid was sent to put a tier of tobacco up in top of barn.He puts his hand above his head onto a black snake.It was a good story to share.
A very good story! 😲😃
I just moved chickens into an old coop yesterday. I went in today and pulled out a 6 foot black snake. Normally I wouldn’t mind them but it ate 4 eggs so we just moved it to a nearby wildlife area.
I had a six footer in my coop today
Wow! I haven't found a six or 8 footer since I started doing videos! Jelly! Jelly. I hope one crosses my path soon! Sorry for late reply..i,have been on the road in my self made camper van and lost track of way too many comments! Apologies!
Personally I am not comfortable around snakes, but in the 1950’s I lived in Florida along a river, we had large “black” snakes that lived under our concrete block house and my uncle encouraged them! They would be on our patio in early mornings, I would rattle the door to get them off so I could get to school! On the other hand my mother was a kind of snake whisperer, she would put her hand down and small snakes would climb her arm, she would then carry them out of harms way! When I tell people about it they look skeptical but I saw this multiple times! I almost didn’t click on this video and I am so glad I did!
I am glad you clicked on my channel! Thanks for sharing your story with me and viewers the whole channel experience!
Oh yeah they get very large in Arkansas too. I have seen several of these 7' long in my time. Not as long as the Coachwhip snakes I have seen, but pretty long.
😎😎😎
We have Texas black rat snakes here, frequently well over six feet. Sometimes they have a rather bad attitude. I do know they love to climb screen doors. It is always a big disarming when you open the front door and there is ten pounds of snake in your face. It wasn’t hard to figure out they were trying to get into the swallows nests under the porch.
Lol...on your description of door encounter! Did you see my what can black snakes climb? Btw..is it me or is EVERYTHING bigger in Texas?
@@natureatyourdoor That encounter actually happened to my daughter at her house. Good thing her husband didn’t open the door he would have soiled himself. My daughter and her brother are simply not afraid of snakes in the least.
I'm in central PA. We have black snakes, rattlesnakes and copperheads... my property backs up to the woods and there is stream a little ways back. I had a garden statue of little kissing boy and girl about a foot high in a garden section next to my house, an adorable statue. So you can imagine my reaction to go out one day and find a huge black rat snake wrapped around it sunning itself. Some things you never forget.
laughing! oh nooooooo! I can picture it! LOL!
Several years ago I noticed a couple of snakes wrapped around each other in a little creek near our house. I thought they were mating, then noticed they were different species. The larger one was a black snake and the smaller one appeared to be a brown water snake. After observing for a while, it became obvious that the larger snake was very patiently killing the smaller snake . . . by wearing it out and keeping its head under wanter for long periods of time. I didn't have time to stay and see how it ended, but I got some video of it. Let me know if. you're interested in seeing it. I've got it on my RUclips channel (not currently up for public viewing.) Thanks for the good information.
Pretty cool video Puggyd58. I just saw a video on facebook of a black colored kings snake eating a copperhead. Black rat snakes rarely eat other snakes....but black racers a different genus...will eat other snakes on ocassion. Actually just saw a video of that too!
@@natureatyourdoor I just humanely caught some house mice and this baby Black Rat Snake has gotten in the house and into their cage twice now and don't know what to do. I am in SC and have three sheds outside all at least 10' x 12' with two at 10' x 16' and thought about releasing it in there because there are mice in them as well but thought that they would probably be too hot. Also by the way years ago I was walking my two tiny Chihuahuas and they started barking and wanted to run to see something which I thought was probably a deer I hadn't seen yet, after running over 100 feet we came to the edge of some Christmas Ferns and I looked down and thought I saw a two-headed snake of two different colors!!! I immediately got my Chis back in the house and went back to investigate but they were gone. I think now one must have been a Black Racer or King Snake but the other was definitely a Copperhead which are plentiful in this mountainous part of SC, the snakes were entangled and I think the black snake had the upper hand. If you can respond as to what to do I am @ Littlebit29605@aol.com and my name is Mark and I would really like a suggestion asap if possible but don't check RUclips very often, Thanks Mark
love it man, I work at a summer camp in Floyd and kids usually get nervous around the snakes. I love them and all summer have been encouraging kids to feel safe around them...
Very cool! Neighbor!
I love rat and black snakes! I have a rat snake that lives in my garage,she's beautiful!!!She is so friendly.Havent seen a varmint since!!!💝
That is great!
I've had black rat snakes around my cabin in NC for years! I've caught one several times that I name Boomerang because he always comes back! I've never been bitten by one!
Very cool! They are the good guys!
I live in the mountains of WV ,I don't even kill copperheads,burns me up when a snake is in there natural habitat called the outdoors an people kill them.people are ignorant when it comes to snakes.their beautiful.
Agreed.
We have some very large Black Rat Snakes here on our homestead/mini farm in East TN. I found one in the egg laying box a couple years ago that was quite large; over 6' long. I had David take a picture of me holding it. It was a beauty. I held it for about a 1/2 an hour, then released it in the spiral garden area on the farm. It didn't come back to steal anymore eggs. ;) They also love living under the house in the insulation, which is great, and in the wood shed. They keep the mice and rats away. We often find snake skins hanging in the barn rafters.
Thank you for this interesting share of your experience!
Awesome snakes. Racers are cool too!👍🇺🇸❤️
Yes they are!
Except racers bite like a leg hold trap @@natureatyourdoor
Just found youand subbed after watching your video. Your students must've loved you so much! I homeschooled my youngest son, and one of our most memorable 'lessons' was the Black Snake. He lived under our country house. As long as he lived there; no mice in the house. One day, we had climbed the big tree in the front yard, looking for specimen to categorize and chart (by drawing it)...and we came face to face with our black snake. That's when we learned they were good cimbers. We called him Big Black. We started to leave him little treats up in the tree, which he always ate. Thanks for such an informative video! 🤗
You are welcome...and thanks for sharing your experience and enriching our channel!
I always tell people that nobody has been able to make a rat trap as good as that which nature has made. Most snakes can be found where people are because rats like our homes and food.
Very true in both counts!
Growing up, I learned a whole bunch of wise tales about snakes.
It's fun disproving all or most of them.
Thanks Frank. Hey! That's a wonderful specimen you were holding, simply beautiful.
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for helping with the myth busting!
I've noticed a lot of talk on the internet lately about how black rat snakes do not kill copperheads, only black racers and king snakes do. I've been around regular black rat snakes all 50 years of my life here in the mountains of Carolina and I'm here to tell you.... Yes regular black rat snakes will kill and eat copperheads! I've witnessed it personally numerous times. We have a large 7 foot 3 incher ( we have several rat snakes, but this one has been on our farm for a little over 9 years now) we've named Mammoth, who actually prefers other snakes, frogs and especially small fish over rats and mice. It basically lives on the railing and the rafters of our hunting cabin porch down in our bottom land. When it's not resting around the cabin, it's hunting the banks of the pond in front of it for a meal. Over the years it has lived here we have personally witnessed it eating dozens of Northern banded water snakes, half a dozen copperheads, several garter snakes, 1 green snake and one young timber rattler (it did attempt to catch and constrict a hognose snake once on the road that goes down to the cabin, but for some reason it let it go pretty quickly and lost interest). It's favorite thing to eat is young bluegill, which it catches by laying across the dock and snatches them off the edge as they surface to eat bugs. If it can't catch a fish, it will work it's way up and down the banks looking for a frog or water snake, but fish is what it prefers. As far as describing the colorization of a black rat snakes life/growth cycle, you are spot on. You wouldn't believe the amount of people who have called me to come get a copperhead out of their house/building/garage, etc and it ends up being a juvenile black rat snake. It makes me sick to see them killed because we absolutely love our black snakes and know how valuable they are to the ecosystem. My son enjoys interacting with them so much, he's thinking about applying for the herpetology program at Clemson after he finishes highschool......
The algorithm just brought your channel to my attention. Two weeks ago, we were up at Galax, VA. Right next to Stewarts Creek WMA. We had a Black Rat snake, an Eastern Box turtle, and a Copperhead. It was wonderful.
Ha! Love the algorithm! Glad it brought you to my channel...yes galax is a few miles from me! So glad you got to see the 3 species!
We had Indigoes where I lived my early life, in South Dade County, Florida..They keep the rats away, or eaten, plus, rarely would see rattlers in our Avocado grove.I have seen them 7 feet long- great climbers, and fast on the ground
Very cool!
Yep.. an absolutely gorgeous snake. We had them in our front yard here in WPB. They get a LOT bigger than a black snake like you mentioned. We had one that was at least 9 feet long and probably 2 and half inch diameter at his thickest point. VERY friendly too. It would crawl uo on me to get warm and tell you what it had some weight too. My 2yo Great Granddaughter at the time used to pet it (right on its head it did not care). She asked if we could "keep" "him". Nope we didn't go there. They fed mostly on frogs we had plenty of food around for them! I assumed it was male due to its size but perhaps it was female. We had probably a dozen of them but this one was the largest. It definitely "knew" us too.
I lived in Texas county, Mo in the '90s and came upon a very large black rat snake, laying across a dirt road in the sun and adapting it's body to every part of the gravel texture. I got off the motorcycle and reached down to him and he pulled himself into a coil in an instant. I went on to scoop him up and took to my home where I let him loose in the house to stay for a couple days. Found him once coiled up in the sun under a window and on top of a basket of laundry. He crawled into our large kitchen and climbed up the back of our microwave caddy and up to the curtain rod, stretched out full length there. When I took him out to turn loose, he motioned that he wanted to climb trees we passed under.
This experience is indelible for me, never thought I'd find a snake to be so accommodating and only tried to strike once, at the first spot on the road. He scanned my face with his tongue and by eye; I never had seen a snake able to move his eye orbit in order to see - really a gentle soul and interested in his captor. I'd handled many snakes before but this character won my appreciation like no other.
Great moment of human wildlife connections. You are absolutely first person I know to release a snake indoors! Hmmmmm. Sounds kinda fun. Don't think my wife would find that acceptable!
@@natureatyourdoor My wife looked on with cautious eyes. She'd become used to some adventures with wildlife, declared an interest some years before and we worked at an exotic animal park for a season.
I don't recall her ever touching the snake but she was hands on with opossums which we had on occasion, raising young ones whose mothers had been killed on the road.
The experience with the snake has more impact from memory now, I think, that it did at the time - it was just so cool and friendly. The animal was comfortable with handling though I didn't take it up often. He/she was an incredible guest, did not hide out of fear, just parked it's ~6' length in cozy spots.
these are quite a bit smaller than their Eastern Indigo counterparts. We used to have Indigo's in our front yard (they're probably still there but we moved). Indigo's are absolutely gorgeous especially after they first moat. Now this snake never stopped moving but Indigo's are not like that. They're perfectly content to lie perfectly still when you hold them (at least at times). this black snake is a LOT skinnier than an Indigo as well. yeah Indigo's can have some weight to them because they're the longest native snake of North America. Indigo's are super friendly and curious as well thus if you remain still and non threatening while holding your hand out they'll probably approach and take a sniff or even climb aboard. yeah, friendly & especially if they wanna get warmed up a bit (they like your bare skin). Finally they're absolutely no threat to bite you. the black snake probably has a similar disposition which is pretty obvious here.
Thanks for share! Indigo snakes sound awesome! Road trip!
I saw one last summer while I worked at a busy nature camp in MA. I was all alone when I saw it so no one believed me. It was so elegant and beautiful, about 4 feet long.
Yes! They ARE elegant!
What an awesome video! I'm so glad you made it! Hopefully you saved some of these guys from being misidentified and killed. 🐍
Thank you so much! Watch for tomorrow's video "5 reasons not to fear or kill black snakes" !
@@natureatyourdoor Oh, wonderful! I just subscribed, so I'll go back and make sure I've hit the bell! 👍
Last summer, I caught a six footer climbing my stucco garage wall, trying to get to some baby birds in a nest at the eave of my roof. It's amazing how well they climb!
Yes! You might like my what can black snakes climb episode where I put them to the test!
@@natureatyourdoor 👍😎
I'm in Georgia and have them everywhere on my land. Saw one once laying in the road, his tail was across the middle yellow line and his head was going into the ditch. He was long, no doubt
Wow! 😲
I have always loved blacksnakes. They are one of the coolest snakes. When I was a kid there was an old building out in the woods where are black snake lived. He was always there when I would go in that building. He would let me pick him up and put him back. It was like he was my buddy.
Yes! Black snakes are the coolest and so many...not all..but many are so "chill"!
I found out by accident that Black Snakes are climbers. I was out in Ohio at Guitar camp (Fur Peace Ranch) and I was out in the back field practicing when I saw a Black snake in a tree just about shoulder height. I was about 10 feet away from him (or her) and since the snake did not seem threatened, I just kept on playing for him. The snake stayed there for the entire time (30-40 minutes) I was out back there playing. I don't know if he enjoyed the music or not.
Yes. Great climbers! Did you see my what can a black snake climb video?
We had the same Black Snake around our house for years and I was always happy to see it because I knew it was doing it's job and protecting us from other vermon .
When ever working away from home and would find a black snake I would take it home and release it there .
So cool to have a "resident" snake and respect your willingness to coexist with it peacefully!!
Black snakes provide a very valuable service as white legged field mice over populate most wood land even ole copper heads are more docile than people think just dont irritate a copperhead when its molting time when a copper heads eyes are pink he will strike at anything i had some really close calls back when i use to search for wild ginseng and i learned also rattle snakes dont always rattle before they strike
Great share! Thanks for your experience!
THEY are a amazing snake. I have one that comes in my garage every spring to shed, it's been 6 yrs. now. its right at 7 ft long. I've talked to all my neighbors and showed them photos of it and asks to please don't harm it for the good it will do for all of use now and in the future. It fixed my mouse problem I had in my garage 4 yrs ago but thats another story.
Another great coexistence with wildlife share!
Here in Georgia we have the Eastern Indigo snake. I've heard they get up to 8.5 feet long. They make your black snake look like a worm. I remember once back in 2010 when I was living on my parents property. Their dogs alerted me to something by barking up a storm. When I went out to their pin. I was expecting to see a raccoon, opossum or an armadillo. There was the biggest snakes I ever seen. I estimated it to be at least 10 ft long. When the snake saw me or felt my vibration from my footsteps. Its tail was whipping and moving like greased lightning down a hole. When we moved the house there were numerous holes from rats. One was as wide as a softball. I guess I must have scared the snake as much as it scared me because we never saw it again.
Wow fascinating!! Thanks for sharing your experience with me and viewers
You also have corrupt elections in Georgia . Bigger snakes in your politicians .
Yep.. the Eastern Indigo can get BIG. its the longest native snake in North America AND have some weight on them as well. They are absolutely the most beautiful snake on the planet and completely harmless. We had the grace of having a number of them for years on our property. A few of them would come right up to me if I was sitting and crawl up on my lap for warmth. a VERY humbling experience I wanna tell you.
@@leecowell8165 your politicians will do the same . How's that gas going for you?
No, don't like snakes, not any kind . Won't be friends with a snake. Had to close a call with a Copperhead, didn't see no non venomous snake around to get rid. Don't buy that they are more scared of me, than me of it.
I lived in an old farmhouse near Dover, DE and one day I watched a 6-7 ft. black snake climbing vertically up the side of the house!
Yes! Did you see my "what can a black snake climb" video?
Have you introduced your viewers to the Worm Snake (Carphophis amoenus)? I happened to find one on the sidewalk in near my home here in Yorktown, VA. Very interesting snake and tottaly harmless with one exception, it may try to stab you with its tail. If you can and have an opportunity, please talk about this little guy. Thanks and love your channel.
I just got a worm snake yesterday! How crazy is that? ...will be filming this week then releasing! They ARE so cool! So glad to have you as a subscriber to my channel! Thanks for topic suggestion.
I have lived in Virginia almost my entire life and had no idea about these snakes.... Thanks for video!
You ll need to check out mynplaylists for more on VA wildlife and plants! You are welcome!
West Virginia is full with wonders in this category type reptile,we also have land lizards and land turtles as well water turtles.
If you walk on wooded path anywhere in West Virginia you will find these beautiful creatures easily enough.
The woods are a wonderland of nature and can teach so much to the human species of why we need woodland and nature for human survival.
Birds of amazing colors also abound as do bobcats in trees sleeping a lazy, warm afternoon away. Ferns and wildflowers,with flowering trees in spring are a glorious sight to behold.
It's such a pity that the loggers and gas frack drillers have destroyed so much of our beautiful wildlife for the love of greed and profit.😭
😢
I got some nice pictures of a beautiful copperhead outside of a Denny's last month in western Maryland. It was between displaced blocks of the top, and 2nd row of a retaining wall, perched looking towards honeysuckle spilling over the top of the wall. I was absolutely thrilled!
Oh, how cool...by a Denny's lol! I am actually jealous! Ha!
It's just baffling that these people bring a dead snake they killed. Thinking it's a copperhead.
It upsets me really much
I know. Me too. Crazy. And they think they are hero's with an epic tale to tell!
@@natureatyourdoor Yes, Goodness that's so annoying 😬
I live in Northwest Florida on a little farm and I absolutely love all of my rat snakes that live under the shed and near the chicken coop. I have never had a problem with them hurting any of my small livestock or eating eggs. The only problem I have is occasionally during fig season one will get tangled in the bird netting and I will have to take the time to get it untangled.
They are incredibly smooth to the touch and when I turn them loose, I am always shocked at how fast they can move !
Thanks for sharing! Awesome hearing people's stories of peaceful coexistence!
You’re killing it man👏🏾
Ha! Thanks man! Steep learning curve...i want to improve my visual with more clips! I love sharing doing this Darryl. Do you see me smile in every video...its because when I flip the on button I see you..my students in front of me ...like you are right there! Looking forward to following your new adventure man! You have great attitude one door closes..another opens...lets see what is behind that door that is just opening!
Frank Taylor thanks brother, I think the videos are very great. The editing is smooth, the information of very interesting and is easy to understand. The next science guy right here maybe. Great stuff my friend.
When we moved into our home in central Virginia I was exploring the back shed since the seller agreed to convey the zero turn mower and a snow blower. I noticed the snowblower had some weird handles. And the engine cover on the mower also looked odd. What I had walked into was a black snake feeding area. Mice were living in the friction plate area. Beaucoup mice. A regular buffet for the snakes. I removed about 5-6 black snakes. After cleaning out the mice the friction plate area in the snowblower I have not seen another black snake in the shed, but occasionally see them clinging to the sides of trees.
Wow!! That is amazing! That is a surprising number of black snakes in one spot! Amazing..thanks for share!
When we went to visit our aunt in Virginia people there would call every snake they see a Copperhead. One day when I was 15 years old I went out behind of one of her buildings where a pile of construction junk was dumped. I saw a Fence swift/ Blue Belly lizard. I wanted to catch it so I waited and waited for it to come back out so I could grab it. While waiting I noticed a fat snake about 3 feet from me sunning itself. It blended in perfectly with the oak leaves so it was hard to see it. I figured it must of been a corn snake but it was very fat. It had big wide bands that matched the oak leaves. After awhile I went and told my father about the snake and took him to the spot where I saw the snake. The snake was gone so we looked around for it and found it had gone into a large roll of roofing tar paper. We picked up the roll of tar paper and looked into it. Held it up and looked into the center of the roll and saw the snake. We shook and shook the roll of tar paper but the snake wouldn't come out. So we put the tar paper down and left. Later I realized that the snake wasn't a corn snake but a Copperhead. The lesson I learned was that if you want to get bitten by a snake is that you really have to work at it.
Ha! it is so true... locally i find same thing...every snake is a copperhead! Particularly any snake with a pattern like a juvenile rat snake. whooooooaaa! Great story! I guess sooner or later a copperhead will show up.
My friend's son is often running in the woods & while doing so, he was bitten. They said 30 minutes longer getting to the hospital & he would have died. I presume it had to bite b/c the 7year old was running & prob stepped on or to near the copperhead. I don't think the snake was hunting her son...
Thank you for the great detailed information on a REALLY cool critter , I hope your in depth explanation of their coloration and ability to mimic venomous snakes when agitated might save some from being killed.............
Exactly! Thanks for share Daniel!
I’d much rather have a black snake in my house than a mouse
Agreeded!
Thank you for this excellent information. This is our 3rd yr living in Va and we have a 48”-50” black snake that occupies our basement in the winters. I let him be to keep the rodents away. He’s gone when the weathers nice.
Very cool you have a welcome winter guest! Great to hear when people and wildlife can peacefully coexist!
I love this video! I myself have a weird love and interest in snakes and I don’t do it around my children but I used to love handling snakes and it horrified and embarrassed my now husband. Anyways we have a couple large black rat snakes living in our yard and love seeing them but yesterday we came home to the younger one who lives in a hole in our mulch wrapped around our go kart and must have got stuck in our garage before we left for the store and It scared my 4 year old so bad because he was not expecting it and I could not calm him down so this video really helped him understand more about the rat snake and also helped him develop a respect and love for snakes like I have. My neighbors kill them and it makes me so sad and all think I am crazy for being okay with them being on our property but we live next to the woods so I am happy they keep rodents away and enjoy running into this harmless predator. Strangely they are very calm around me but show a more aggressive side with my husband and even rattle the tail like a rattle snake and coil up when they feel threatened
Thanks for share. Glad to hear you can coexist with these fascinating animals.
I remember when this was Elaphe obsoleta. So you know I'm pretty old.
This has always been one of my favorite pet snakes due tot their easiness of handling, care and feeding. Their climbing ability is greatly aided by their ability to form a ridge at the junction of their belly scutes and their body scales. Most snakes of their size cannot do this. In the 1960's I found several large trees that were regularly used by multiple snakes as bases from which they launched their daily activities. If you wanted to catch larger specimens , you could wait for them to descend from their perches in the morning and try to catch them just before they escaped into surrounding woodlands. These trees were reliable snake havens from year to year.
Fascinating observations about the big snakes in the trees! What an amazing thing to witness! Thanks for sharing with me and viewers! Just wow!
Your observations about the big snakes in the trees is absolutely fascinating..thanks for sharing with me and viewers! Just wow!
I had 6 Silkie chicks, too big to be eaten, sitting together on top of a cage. Later that afternoon, found all dead having been spit out by black snake. Same with a nest of bunnies.
Thanks for video!
Oh no! Are you sure it was a black snake that did that
..that is very odd...and out of realm of my understanding.
Can you share more details?
Hi Frank this about 10 times now ive watched my favorite biology teacher. And your teaching about a critter that i really like. They are awsome and very docile. God bless teach. Pennsylvania Jeff.
You are very welcome
Snakes eat slugs! I was living in Western WA where the only snakes were garter snakes. They would startle me when I was working in the garden when they scurried away. I learned to appreciate them when I spotted one with a huge slug in it’s mouth. Believe me when I say ‘huge’! We had Banana slugs that were six inches long!
Another benefit of snakes for gardeners! Keep the ecology balanced.
That was fantastic! I am not afraid of black 'panther' snake anymore! Thank you for the smart snake information!
You are welcome!
Great video! I am here because I just saw Black Snake shaking his tail like a Rattlesnake, and even coiling up to strike. I thought it was pretty funny and he sure didn't fool me!
It is so cool when they do that? So what came first,..snakes vibrating tails or rattlesnake? Who is imitating who?
I had one show up in my house last Sunday morning. Not sure how it found it's way in, but it was very well behaved after it learned I wasn't going to hurt it. I let it go in a wooded area next to a lake. Very pleasant creators.
Glad you had such a good experience with a snake...inside your house! Oh gosh. Just me creating this channel..thanks for kind words. Check out my snake playlists for more good content!
I once camped at Walker Lake Nevada where I saw a Gopher snake expand the back of its head and wiggle its tail as you described in the video. It crawled under a large rock only to reemerge a short time later looking like a regular old Gopher snake.
Fascinating! What a thing to witness! Thanks for sharing!
I live on 14 wooded acres in eastern NC, black snakes in the garden and sometimes on our porch while we're sitting out there. I've seen them scale the side of my house, in my garage and int the woods. They kill copperheads out here too, just saw that a few years ago. I did not know about them changing the shape of their heads, new one on me. And I've seen gopher snakes imitate rattlers but never a black snake. Learned something new, I appreciate the info.
You are welcome. And thanks for sharing your knowledge and experiences as well!
In western Carolina I personally experienced working outside of my house and getting the body notification and watched a 4” Copperhead running from a 5ft Beautiful Black Snake! 🇺🇸
Wow!!
Grew up with them. After work walking up my driveway, bent down to pickup a stick. It had a head. Noticed it had a big lump in his belly, good job buddy! Oh, 5 footer.
Oh no! Lololol! 😄
We had a 4-5 foot black snake living in the crawlspace under our house for several years and never had mice in the house during that time. But, when the snake left, we had mice again. And I never saw that snake the entire time it was in the crawlspace. Only the skin it left behind. I miss that snake. I got a photo of one on a branch in a pine tree after his "date" with a lady friend. What a huge smile he had.
😃