Pictures of rat snakes in florida

Identifying An Eastern Ratsnake: Eastern ratsnakes are yellow, orange, tan, or gray and have four stripes running down their back from head to tail. The tail stripes can be black or dark brown. Juveniles are usually gray and will occasionally have blotches of color that carry over into adulthood.

Non-venomous. Gray Ratsnakes are not dangerous to people or pets, but they will readily bite to defend themselves. These snakes are not aggressive and avoid direct contact with people and pets. Virtually all bites occur when the snakes are intentionally molested.

There are only two species of rat snake native to Florida, but they are so variable in color and pattern you'd think there were many more. The red rat or “corn” snake is the only large, red-orange snake likely to be encountered in developed areas of Florida.

Racers have elliptical, uniform blotches down length of the body. Rat snakes have irregularly shaped (but uniform to each other) blotches down the length of the body. Both of their patterns run down through the tip of their pointed tails as opposed to the rattlesnake's “velvet tail.” There is no stripe down the back!