What does a Pennsylvania rat snake look like?

Adult eastern rat snakes are black or dull brown with dark blotches. The skin between its scales may be bluish white, yellow or orange. They have a white chin and throat. Their belly is white or yellow with some mottling with black or gray.

What does a Pennsylvania copperhead snake look like?

The background is pinkish brown, light tan to greyish brown with wide brown to reddish brown bands that become darker towards the margin. The bands are saddle shaped (hourglass) that are broader along the sides and become narrower across the dorsum. Small dark spots are present inside the light area between the bands.

How do you know if a PA snake is poisonous?

In Pennsylvania, all of our venomous snakes have slit-like pupils that are similar to a cat’s eye. Nonvenomous snakes have round pupils, like a human eye. If you find a shedded snake skin, look at the scales on the underside. If they are in a single row all the way to the tip of its tail, it came from a venomous snake.

Are there kingsnakes in Pennsylvania?

With the exception of two types of venomous snakes, Pennsylvania snakes consist of nineteen species of colubrid snakes, a family of snakes with familiar names such as ratsnakes, kingsnakes, garter snakes and watersnakes.

How big do rat snakes get in Pennsylvania?

6-8 feet
The black rat snake is the largest of Pennsylvania’s snakes, sometimes measuring 6-8 feet with documentation of individuals stretching to more than 100 inches. Here two distinct species go by the generic title “black snake.” The other’s the black racer, the state’s second biggest legless reptile.

Are water snakes in Pa poisonous?

Recap of water snakes in PA Only one venomous snake makes this list of water snakes in PA, meaning that most of the water snakes you may encounter are in fact harmless.

Do Copperheads live in Pennsylvania?

One of only three venomous snakes common to Pennsylvania, the Copperhead is a close cousin of the Cottonmouth or Water Moccasin found in more southerly aquatic environments. Reflecting its preferred habitat, the Copperhead sometimes is referred to as the “upland” or “highland” moccasin.

Does PA have copperhead snakes?

The three venomous species of snakes in Pennsylvania are the Eastern Copperhead, Timber Rattlesnake and Eastern Massasauga. Reports of venomous snakebites in Pennsylvania are rare.

What is the largest snake in PA?

black rat snake

Where are rattlesnakes found in PA?

Timber rattlesnakes inhabit the mountainous regions of Pennsylvania. They prefer upland forested areas where they forage for small mammals like mice and chipmunks. Talus slopes, rocky ledges and outcrops, and boulder fields with open, primarily southern-facing exposures, create conditions ideal for basking.

What is the longest snake in PA?

Rat snakes
Rat snakes are not venomous, can exceed 8 feet and are native to Pennsylvania, Paherps.com reports. The species is considered the state’s largest snake and a heavy bodied species, the site says.

Which is the largest snake in the PA?

Largest snakes in PA. Large, heavy bodies species. The head distinct from the body. Dorsal scales are weakly keeled. The dorsal background is white to yellow with a strong pattern of blotches. Blotches are grey, black or brown.

What kind of snake is black in Pennsylvania?

The eastern rat snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) is the largest species of snake in Pennsylvania. Also known as the black rat snake, it is common and abundant in meadows, ag areas and open wooded areas across Pennsylvania.

Where can I find eastern garter snakes in PA?

The eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) is one of the most common snakes across all of Pennsylvania. It is found in nearly all habitats, from forests and talus slopes to backyards everywhere, but usually near water. The adult is 20-28 inches in length. Green to dark brown with stripes and spots between them on the upper body.

What kind of snakes live in Scranton PA?

Scranton: 570-904-8590 Rat Snakes: Both the black and gray rat snakes can be found in Pennsylvania, and these feed on things such as lizards, mice, rats, copperhead snakes (venomous) and more. Garter Snakes: Probably the most commonly sighted snake in PA, and often referred to as a Garden Snake or Gardener Snake.