What's This?

[bizzy]

I snapped this picture a few weeks ago whike Geocaching in a nearby State Park. It is the biggest wild snake I have ever seen, at least 7 feet.... although he wasn't too keen on me getting close enough to get a good estimate he looked HUGE when he slithered to a higher branch. No corns that day (probably none wild around here in the northern part of the state) but this was pretty cool. Any ideas as to his identity?

[Marcel Poots]

From here that looks like a black rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta). Magnificent!!

[Darin Chappell]

Yep! Pantherophis obsoleta, the Black Rat snake. As I understand it, there are several populations in Kentucky that have that mottled look to them. It's as if their black doesn't form all the way, and their neonate patterns continue to show through the haze.

Nice one!

[So Pirate55]

"Chicken Eater" hahaha, yeah it's just a really big black rat snake. I can still hear my grandpa calling them "chicken eaters" which for some reason i find funny. why? i have no clue

[eddie]

my grampa didnt call them chcken eaters he called them snitchs...