Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife
Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife
Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife
Home
Tennessee Wildlife
  Viewing Trail

FAQ
Critter of the Month
Seasonal Events
Monthly Gallery
Backyard Wildlife Info
TWRA Publications
Woodworking for Wildlife
Education Tools
Links to Related Sites
Sponsors
About us
Contact Us
Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife
Join our Mailing List
Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife

Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife

Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife






Policies & Privacy
©Copyright 2024 TWRA




REPTILES » SNAKES
Gray Ratsnake

Gray Ratsnake
Pantherophis spiloides

This common species, often referred to as the “chicken snake,” occurs across all of Tennessee.

Description: A large snake (42.0 to 72.0 inches in length) with a variable color pattern. Dorsal color is usually black spackled with bits of white between scales and having a light throat. Some specimens may be gray with blotches of brown or darker gray on back. Scales are slightly keeled. Belly is whitish in color near the head, but becomes a black checkerboard pattern towards the tail. Juveniles are gray strongly patterned with the brown or dark gray blotches.

Similar Species: Eastern Black Kingsnake and North American Racer both have smooth scales and bodies are more rounded.

Habitat: Lives in a variety of habitats including woodlands (pine and hardwood), field edges, near streams, and around farms and suburban areas. Gray Ratsnakes take shelter in woodpiles, hollow trees, barns, and old houses.

Diet: Preys upon small mammals and birds by constriction; also swallows bird eggs.

Breeding information: Adults usually breed in spring, occasionally in fall. Females lay 6-30 eggs under rotten logs, stumps, or rocks during the summer. Multiple females may nest together. Young hatch in a couple of months.

Status in Tennessee: One of the most abundant snakes in the state. Because they are frequently found around human dwellings, Gray Ratsnakes are vulnerable to being killed by people with a fear of snakes.

Fun Facts:

  • Ratsnakes are excellent climbers and are frequently found near or in trees. Sometimes they can be found basking on a horizontal limb.

Best places to see in Tennessee: A barn or other farm building with grain storage; or brushpiles in a yard.

For more information:

Atlas of the Reptiles of Tennessee

The Snakes of Tennessee web site

Sources:

Conant, R. and Collins, J. 1998. Peterson Field Guides: Reptiles and Amphibians (Eastern/Central North America). Houghton Mifflin Company, New York. 616pp.

Jensen, J. B., Camp C. D., Gibbons, W., and Elliot, M. J. 2008. Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia, University of Georgia Press, Athens, GA. 575pp.



Cookie Policy: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with these terms.