Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

Rat Snake · 10:09 AM

Found this guy near our RV on our last trip to the Blue Ridge. My wonderful husband did what he usually does when he sees a snake, he makes me go take the photo while he stays safely indoor. Not poisonous by the way.

The ISO and shutter speed were way to high because we had been out looking for birds and I forgot to take the camera out of TAv mode. Sigh!

charliezap · 05-19-2012, 10:24 AM

Nice looking creature maybe best observed from a distance for most people.--charliezap

**ramseybuckeye** · 05-19-2012, 10:45 AM

Very nice Susan, this snake was watching you!! Probably scared to death.

tessfully · 05-19-2012, 11:09 AM

oh boy, I love snakes and this guy is gorgeous ... he also looks big. I took a photo of a garter snake while camping... very sweet how they pose! Thanks for sharing Susan!!

**Bob Harris** · 05-19-2012, 11:17 AM

That is one big snake Susan and a bit scary if near the RV, at first I bet you didn't know what type of snake it was. Cool shot and nice to see at a distance.

Jimbo · 05-19-2012, 11:34 AM

I am with your husband. I would have backed the camping gear up and headed home though! JIM

morelia · 05-19-2012, 12:55 PM

It's a Black Ratsnake, a powerful constrictor but harmless to humans.
Good photos of it.

westmill · 05-19-2012, 01:09 PM

Nice pic !!!! Shutter speed never to fast... only too slow lol

Rupert · 05-19-2012, 01:40 PM

Nice shooting Susan!, he is a good specimen! We have one that lives mostly in the grape vines on a fence. Yours looks like he may have a few wounds? It is not unusual here to see them attacked by birds, in particular by Jays and Mocking birds. I let him be, he is harmless and keeps down rodents.

Best Regards!

slowpez · 05-19-2012, 03:35 PM

Thanks all. I do love snakes although it did take me a bit to get over my initial fear of them. They are gorgeous creatures. This one was about 6 feet and, Rupert, it was being attacked by birds when we drove up. Thought he might have been doing a little nest robbing. We have one of these guys living in our yard and he has been here for years. We are the only ones in the neighborhood that don't have a problem with moles. LOL.

loco · 05-19-2012, 05:55 PM

Very nice shots, Susan. Great looking snake! I actually like these guys. Wonderful to have around to keep the varmints away. There's one hanging out in the yard now, saw him last weekend. This guy is a bit feisty! Usually they just freeze and sort of crinkle up until you go away, rather than coil like this.

I have heard that rat snakes can help discourage copperheads from being in the same territory. I believe it since I have seen one copperhead in over 20 years on my property. Yet another reason to leave these guys be!

slowpez · 05-20-2012, 07:26 AM

Thanks for commenting Lori. I too love snakes and really love it when I see them in their home territories..

Eberbachl · 05-20-2012, 07:36 AM

Nice shots... ISO 4500 looks pretty snappy!

slowpez · 05-20-2012, 07:42 AM

Originally posted by Eberbachl

Nice shots... ISO 4500 looks pretty snappy!

I love the K-5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**jford** · 05-20-2012, 04:54 PM

Very nice capture - especially the first, IMO. Kudos to you.
I believe rat snakes are quite partial to eggs, so your "nest robbing" theory is likely.
Thanks for sharing.

slowpez
	View full profile
	Find other posts by slowpez
	Find threads started by slowpez
	Find threads in which slowpez has posted

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Nature Snake!!	Colorado CJ	Post Your Photos!	20	04-25-2012 05:07 PM
Nature It is crab or rat for lunch	Harish Hegde	Post Your Photos!	12	02-01-2011 12:04 AM
Not Work-Safe Poor Rat's Demise	les3547	Post Your Photos!	3	01-22-2011 09:00 PM
Rat!	Geyst	Photo Critique	9	12-11-2008 11:09 PM
Warning: Rat Poison	Kristofer Wallmark	Post Your Photos!	3	08-04-2008 12:34 AM

05-19-2012, 10:24 AM	#2
charliezap Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: saugus ma Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,686	Nice looking creature maybe best observed from a distance for most people.--charliezap

05-19-2012, 10:45 AM	#3
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,295	Very nice Susan, this snake was watching you!! Probably scared to death.

05-19-2012, 11:09 AM	#4
tessfully Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: S. Algonquin, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,860	oh boy, I love snakes and this guy is gorgeous ... he also looks big. I took a photo of a garter snake while camping... very sweet how they pose! Thanks for sharing Susan!!

05-19-2012, 11:17 AM	#5
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477	That is one big snake Susan and a bit scary if near the RV, at first I bet you didn't know what type of snake it was. Cool shot and nice to see at a distance.

05-19-2012, 11:34 AM	#6
Jimbo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maple Ridge BC Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,368	I am with your husband. I would have backed the camping gear up and headed home though! JIM

05-19-2012, 12:55 PM	#7
morelia New Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: LEEDS UK Posts: 12	It's a Black Ratsnake, a powerful constrictor but harmless to humans. Good photos of it.

05-19-2012, 01:09 PM	#8
westmill Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Stoke on Trent Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	Nice pic !!!! Shutter speed never to fast... only too slow lol

05-19-2012, 01:40 PM	#9
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Nice shooting Susan!, he is a good specimen! We have one that lives mostly in the grape vines on a fence. Yours looks like he may have a few wounds? It is not unusual here to see them attacked by birds, in particular by Jays and Mocking birds. I let him be, he is harmless and keeps down rodents. Best Regards!

05-19-2012, 03:35 PM	#10
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,461 Original Poster	Thanks all. I do love snakes although it did take me a bit to get over my initial fear of them. They are gorgeous creatures. This one was about 6 feet and, Rupert, it was being attacked by birds when we drove up. Thought he might have been doing a little nest robbing. We have one of these guys living in our yard and he has been here for years. We are the only ones in the neighborhood that don't have a problem with moles. LOL.

05-19-2012, 05:55 PM	#11
loco Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,846	Very nice shots, Susan. Great looking snake! I actually like these guys. Wonderful to have around to keep the varmints away. There's one hanging out in the yard now, saw him last weekend. This guy is a bit feisty! Usually they just freeze and sort of crinkle up until you go away, rather than coil like this. I have heard that rat snakes can help discourage copperheads from being in the same territory. I believe it since I have seen one copperhead in over 20 years on my property. Yet another reason to leave these guys be!

05-20-2012, 07:26 AM	#12
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,461 Original Poster	Thanks for commenting Lori. I too love snakes and really love it when I see them in their home territories..

05-20-2012, 07:36 AM	#13
Eberbachl Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Doreen Posts: 111	Nice shots... ISO 4500 looks pretty snappy!

05-20-2012, 07:42 AM	#14
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,461 Original Poster	Originally posted by Eberbachl Nice shots... ISO 4500 looks pretty snappy! I love the K-5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

05-20-2012, 04:54 PM	#15
jford Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Indiana PA USA Posts: 1,399	Very nice capture - especially the first, IMO. Kudos to you. I believe rat snakes are quite partial to eggs, so your "nest robbing" theory is likely. Thanks for sharing.

Nature Rat Snake

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!