Black rat snakes, a subspecies of the Eastern rat snake, are common throughout Pennsylvania. They’re large snakes, often growing anywhere between 5 feet and 8 feet in length. They have black backs and white stomachs. They are nonvenomous and don’t pose much threat to people.
A black rat snake’s typical diet includes small rodents like mice and rabbits, squirrels, birds, and eggs. They tend to live around farms, forests, and fields, under ground cover or in trees. Juveniles can be preyed upon by hawks, owls, foxes, and raccoons, but most adult black rat snakes are only threatened by humans.
We recently removed a black rat snake that was over 5 feet long from a barn in Berks County. He wasn’t causing any damage, but the chickens in the barn didn’t really appreciate his company. Because of their diets, black rat snakes can provide free pest control for farms. We relocated this snake a short distance away. He will hopefully stay out of the barn and continue to live in the area, providing free rodent control.
If you’re having a snake problem at your home or business, Wildlife Enterprises, LLC can help. We’ll safely remove the snake and provide prevention strategies to keep it from returning. Call us today to schedule an appointment.