Snake
Posted by marilyn oltman on July 18, 2006
Q: I just purchased a 200 year old fieldstone house in Southern Indiana. I've been renovating the home and in the process have knocked a few holes in the ceiling of my kitchen. I saw a snake crawling over this 3" hole and all I could see was it's spotted belly. It's belly reminded me of a dalmation. From what I could see I suspect this snake is at least 6' in length. I have a mouse problem and was told this is most likely a rat snake, but I'm not sure because the photos I've seen on the internet of the rat snake... well, their belly doesn't look like the one I saw :O I would appreciate any information. Thanks
Habitat: suburban/yard
State: Indiana
Habitat: suburban/yard
A: Although most Black Rat Snakes are pretty evenly colored, they can be a bit spotty looking at times, especially after a meal. Keep in mind too that snakes can vary a bit in color and pattern so what you see in books may not be exactly like "your" snake. Black Rats are also rather large snakes and there is even a record of one that is 101" long so seeing a 6' snake makes me even more inclined to agree that it's a Black Rat. Hope you aren't too freaked out that you're sharing space with a snake but keep in mind that it will help keep your rodent population down, if not eliminate it completely. Thanks for writing.
John Wiessinger ( July 19, 2006)