The Black Rat Snake can grow up to eight feet long. Though, most adults average about six feet in the wild. The black rat snake is mostly black with a faint white pettern. The underside is mostly white with black mixed in. Black Rat Snakes are very prevalent in Georgia and are found in a wide range of habitats from farmland to suburban dwellings to forests and swamps. This snake is usually more active in the daytime in spring and fall and turns nocturnal as the summer heat approaches. Rat Snakes are excellent climbers. They easily climb trees to search for prey and are quite often found in old barns and buildings. The females lay a clutch of 5-30 eggs, which have a soft leathery shell that measures about 2" in length. The hatchlings which are about 12" inches long, normally do not resemble the adults due to their light gray pattern with black splotches. Though quite vulnerable when they're young, a full grown Black Rat Snake has few predators other than man. Black Rat Snakes are constrictors which mean they catch their prey, wrap their body around it and squeeze until the animal is dead. Black Rat Snakes eat birds, eggs, lizards, frogs, chipmunks, squirrels, mice, rats and other small mammals. Black Rat Snakes are very beneficial because they consume large amounts of rodents and other pest animals. Farmers usually appreciate having snakes around for this reason. The Black Rat Snake is not venomous but will bite if threatened. People who don't understand the benefits of snakes often kill them because of fear and misinformation.

Black Rat Snakes are a protected species in Georgia.