A really nice Black Rat Snake

I found this guy today in an area being developed. His only way out would led him through more development and across major roads. So I put him in my lunch cooler and brought him home. He's obviosly had a long, rough life. He was pretty scarred. He was having some shedding issues and looks to have retained his right eye-cap. The cap was clouded and there was a yellow spot on it. Otherwise, he appears to have been very healthy, was brute strong, and had good muscle tone. He was intially very aggressive and was able to sink a couple of teeth in me 3 times. He did calm down and I was able to handle him quite easily. I cleaned him up a bit and treated his head and eye-cap with bacitracin (that's all I knew to do). I took him to the Yorktown National Historical Park and let him go. I've seen exactly 47.5 gazillion Black Rats there so I know there is food. There area I let him go is rather damp and he'll likely have to get wet to get to the fields. I was hoping this would help his shed issue. Here's some pics of this old fellow:

More photos with new home in background. He found a log he seemed to like.

BTW, I could see the snake's eye-ball and pupil under that clouded eye-cap. The yellow spot appeared to be on the surface, not underneath.

Whatta big'un. LOL. That first picture he looks pi$$ed.

He was P'd Off. LOL, when I got home, I called my sons out to see him. I rolled the lid on the cooler back, and he was in that position inside the cooler. I stepped back and so did my kids. He simply arose out of the cooler in that position. The funny part was how slowly he did it. He just kept rising and rising and rising. I guess you had to be there.

NICE Shots. I love the first and second ones. That shot with his tail in it shows a nice jet, black, black rat! Nice find.

I love these beautiful natural snakes people are finding. It really shows thier natural colors. Great shots and great find!

Awesome find SkyChimp!! Looks like that ole boy has had one heck of a life. Great pics and I agree with everyone else that "cobra" pose he's giving you in the first one is my favorite. I love snakes that have attitude at first...they have more character and make the catch more fun. Keep up the good herpin looks like you're gonna have one heck of a productive year so far :cheers:

Nice find. Awesome wild caught specimen. He does seem like a tough guy as beat up as he is. Looks like hes had quite a hard time of it. Nevertheless he looks great. :cheers:
Jay

Nice...

Awesome find and great save, that's my absolute #1 favorite snake! He looks like a huge fella., What did you estimate his length to be, My guess is around 6' at least..

He wasn't 6', but maybe 5'. He was very heavy and had a very thick body.

That's a sweet first pic..........I would have had my doubts of picking him up if I saw that. He's frickin' huge!! Don't really see many black rats or corns up this way in Northern VA, but it's not to say they aren't here. Mostly eastern kings, garters, ribbons, brown water, and some black racers. Nice find.