Posted by Amy Bell on October 3, 2006

Q: I was jogging in a park in Gwinnett County, GA last night and my daughter spotted a baby snake in the grass. It was about 11-12 inches long and slender. It had a very deep gray (or dull black/brown) main body color with a lighter gray pattern down it's back. The lighter gray pattern was an irregular oval shape, or a distorted diamond (not defined edges). I couldn't tell if it would become more of a distinct diamond shape as it matures or if the oval shape was it's normal pattern. The belly was a lighter shade, but was patterned as well. It did not appear to have any rattles growing at the tail and was not a thick bodied snake like the copperheads and cotton mouths. The snake did slithered in an S pattern. I carefully picked it up with a stick and he did try to strike at me a few times, but I know any type of snake will do that when they feel threatened. I didn't find any picutres that matched his pattern so I was wondering if you could ID him for me. We watched him for 30 min or so and released him near a tree. He slithered up a Pine tree in the S pattern as well. Can you help me identify this snake?

Habitat: forest/open woods

State: Georgia

Habitat: forest/open woods

A: It sounds to me like a juvenile rat snake ó probably a Gray Rat Snake. Gray Rats are slender, tree-climbing snakes with saddles down the back and a black-and-white checkered belly. Young snakes are more strongly patterned than adults. Here is an image of a juvenile:

pick5.pick.uga.edu

If this doesn't fit your snake, for a list of Georgia's snakes, take a look at:

www.gwf.org

or write me back and I will try again.

Thanks for writing.

Solon Morse ( October 8, 2006)