LARGE, CONSTRICTING SNAKES

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Among the more formidable looking snakes are the constrictors: rat or chicken snakes, pine, and kingsnakes. Rat snakes are the species most likely to be found climbing on buildings or in lofts and attics. Rat snakes feed chiefly on rodents and occasionally birds, while kingsnakes feed on lizards, snakes and rodents. Most of the constrictors will bite if molested, and the rat snakes will coil and arch themselves into a striking posture, hissing and vibrating the tail as they do so. All are non-venomous.

Red Corn Snake, Pantherophis guttata

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• Other common names: Red rat snake, Eastern corn snake, spotted chicken snake.
• Identification: 25-65 inches. Tan, yellow brown or reddish brown with a series of large, orange or reddish, black-bordered spots down the back and a smaller series on each side; top of head with reddish bands converging at a point between the eyes; underside white with a black checkerboard pattern; scales slightly keeled on top of back, and in 27 rows.
• Habits: Red corn snakes frequent pine woods, mixed woodlands, and hardwood forests, and commonly occur in and around barns and other outbuildings where rodents are numerous. They lay from 4-28 eggs.
• Distribution: The Florida Parishes. A few corn snakes have been found in low country between the Mississippi River and Atchafalaya Basin, and they are also present on the salt dome islands around Cote Blanch Bay.

Slowinski's Corn Snake, Pantherophis slowinskii

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• Other common names: Kisatchie corn snake.
• Identification: 24-52 inches. Gray with a row of large darker gray, brown, or orange, black-bordered spots down the back and a smaller series on each side; top of head with dark bands converging at a point between the eyes; underside white with a black checkerboard pattern, but dark spots smaller than in the Red Corn Snake; scales slightly keeled on top of back, and in 27 rows.
• Habits: Slowinski?s corn snakes occur in well-drained longleaf pine and mixed forests. They are most often seen as they cross roads at night.
• Distribution: Dry uplands of central and northern Louisiana, occurring as far southwest as northern Calcasieu Parish.

Western Rat Snake, Pantherophis obsoleta

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• Other common names: Texas rat snake, chicken snake, liveoak snake.
• Identification: 25-84 inches. In southern Louisiana and some low areas in central Louisiana: tan or gray with large dark brown or black blotches down the back and a smaller series on each side; some scales yellow, orange or red producing a calico effect; underside white anteriorly, grading to gray or pale brown with obscure markings towards the tail. In northern and central Louisiana: black above, often with pale spotting indicating a vague outline of dark blotches. Young rat snakes are pale gray with dark brown blotches. Scales slightly keeled on the middle of the back, and in 25-27 rows.
• Habits: Rat snakes occur in most habitats in Louisiana, but seem to reach their peak abundance in areas containing a mixture of pastures, farmland and woodlands. They climb readily, and may be seen high in trees or crawling up the trunks, and in the rafters of barns. Rat snakes raise their forebody in a loose coil, strike and rattle their tail when agitated. The defensive behavior produces undue fear in some people because rat snakes are non-venomous. They lay from 4-44 eggs.
• Distribution: Throughout Louisiana eastward to the Mississippi River floodplain, but sparingly into the edge of the marsh country.

Gray Rat Snake, Pantherophis spiloides

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• Other common names: Midland rat snake, chicken snake, liveoak snake.
• Identification: 25-84 inches. Tan or gray with large dark brown or black blotches down the back and a smaller series on each side; some scales yellow, orange or red producing a calico effect; underside white anteriorly, grading to gray or pale brown with obscure markings towards the tail. Young rat snakes are pale gray with dark brown blotches. Scales slightly keeled on the middle of the back, and in 25-27 rows. The Western and Gray rat snakes are distinguished on the basis of genetic differences rather than appearance. Use distribution to identify rat snake species.
• Habits: Identical to those of the Western Rat Snake.
• Distribution: Throughout Louisiana westward to the Mississippi River floodplain. The Mississippi River forms the genetic barrier with the Western Rat Snake, but both species are known to occur on opposite sides of the River.

Black Pine Snake, Pituophis melanoleucus

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• Identification: 25-80 inches. Overall dark brown to nearly black with a row of large black blotches down the back, and with light markings on chin; young snakes are paler, with the dark spots being more distinct than in the adults; tip of snout pointed; scales keeled and in 27-32 rows.
• Habits: Pine snakes occur in dry, open, mature pinelands. Their behavior and food is similar to that of the rat snakes, although they do not climb. They lay from 6-13 eggs.
• Distribution: There are two records from Washington Parish, one from the 1920s and one from 1964.

Louisiana Pine Snake, Pituophis ruthveni

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• Other common names: bullsnake.
• Identification: 25-65 inches. Pale tan with a row of large black or brown blotches down the back, and a smaller series on each side; underside whitish with obscure brown spotting; tip of snout pointed; scales keeled and in 27-33 rows.
• Habits: Louisiana pine snakes occur in open longleaf pine uplands where soil is loose. They favor pocket gophers as prey, and spend most of their time in gopher burrows. A small flap at the entrance to their windpipe allows pine snakes to produce a very loud hiss. They lay from 1-5 eggs.
• Distribution: Upland areas of central Louisiana. The Louisiana pine snake has disappeared from much of its former range (orange area of map), and is presently known from the region around Bienville to near Readhimer, Peason Ridge area, and Fort Polk (red areas).

Prairie Kingsnake, Lampropeltis calligaster

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• Other common names: mole kingsnake (eastern part of state).
• Identification: 16-50 inches. Tan, brown or gray above with a row of dark brown to reddish, oblong or dumbbell-shaped spots down the back and a smaller series on each side; underside whitish with brown spotting; young snakes tend to be paler with more distinct spots than adults; color pattern may be darkened and vague in some adults; scales smooth and in 21-27 rows.
• Habits: Prairie kingsnakes occur in open or semi-open habitats such as cropland, pastureland and dry woodland, but seem to spend much of their time in burrows. They lay from 4-21 eggs.
• Distribution: Pinelands of the Florida Parishes, and open, well-drained areas west of the Mississippi Valley and Atchafalaya Basin.

Speckled kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula

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• Identification: 16-60 inches. Shiny black above, each scale with a white or yellow spot; underside cream or yellow with alternating black blotches. In young snakes the yellow spots may be limited to the sides and to narrow bars across the back. The scales are smooth and in 21-23 rows.
• Habits: Kingsnakes are common in woodlands and semi-open habitats, including marshes and vacant lots. They often bite when first captured, but tend to bite and chew rather than strike. They lay from 5-23 eggs.
• Distribution: Throughout Louisiana.

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