Pantherophis alleghaniensis 

Biological Overview

Habitat  

Forests with many leaves and trees.   

Diet  

Wood Ducks, woodpeckers, birds, squirrels, frogs, lizards, and mice  

Role in Ecosystem  

Carnivores that eat anything in tree captivity to balance the ecosystem  

Behavior  

Intimidates by mocking a rattlesnake when in danger straightens like a stick   

Human Impact

Yellow Rat Snakes are non venomous. They break into Chicken coops, blue bird nests, and Martin houses near homes at a very early time when the farmers are sleeping. They attack the eggs of in the nests and kill them. Making the farmers lose animals and profit. To avoid getting bit by the rat snake see how it’s reacting to your presence. If it’s stretched out and looks like a stick it’s trying to hide, but if it’s shaking its tail like a rattlesnake it’s attempting to scare you off. The smartest thing to do is just leave them be. 

Creative Exploration

Yellow rat snake where you wake,  

Do the birds chirp and cheer  

When they see you near,  

Do they scatter and clear   

Into the forest  

Filled with fear  

As you hunt to eat  

Yellow rat snake,  

Caught the prey  

Now it is ready for the next.  

Juliette Milone, Maelyn Cradic 

Book 1