Gray Rat Lifer!!!

So I was pulling up to the shooting range, which is out in the sticks, near Fort White, in Columbia County, Florida. North Central Florida. 12:30 PM, 80F. Sunny. On the paved-to-dirt road, I saw a massive snake laying mostly on the road. Not moving. I stopped dead in the middle of the road and got out. I walked up to him and bent over him. From a distance I had thought it was a large yellow rat, but in fact it was the first wild gray rat I have ever seen! He was laying on the road, motionless, his spine curved in a series of Ss- so many it looked unnatural. I asked "Are you all right?" I stroked my fingers down his back. "Oh no," I thought, "he's been hit by a car." Then he twitched a little. Flicked his tongue. I gently picked him up, and he came to life! He'd just been basking, warming up from the 60F night. The only other snake I have ever picked up like that, as tame as any of my corns, was a black rat up in North Carolina. First I admired him and talked to him. He coiled around and crawled through my hands. I tried to get out my phone to take pics. He was quite long- at least four feet, so getting the phone out and hanging on to him was tricky. Finally I was all set, but he was so massive, I could barely get him far enough away to get him in the picture, at my full arm's length.

Wow! Big pretty fellow!

While I was wrangling around with the camera and the snake, another member drove up and let me in the gate. He said "That looks like an oak snake to me!" So I climbed in my truck with the snake in one hand and drove through the gate then got out to close it. At his point, my friend Todd drove up, so he took some pics of me and the snake that I hope he forwards to me later.

By this point, Mr. Gray Rat was my new best friend, and I'd even gotten in a few kisses, which he was amenable to. But I knew I had to let him go, so I drove him a little bit down the dirt road, to the shotgun range, and let him go in a blackberry patch, next to a big open field and some ramshackle buildings. I'm sure he can find his way just fine back up to the busy highway if he wants, but at least he wouldn't be squished by the time I left to go home! I was SO thrilled to find this big guy!!

He's huuuuuuuuuge!

He's massive! What a nice fellow. Awesome pics.

Oh, I think I would have fallen in love with him on the spot! What a big, nice, healthy-looking guy. I like him!

He's very impressive! What a terrific photo op. You're soooo lucky.

That seems to be the normal pattern for Eastern rat snakes to freeze when approached. I've rarely had one "flee" when discovered and act just like you described. Of course some of them go crazy when they are first touched and try to bite your head off.

That is so awesome Nanci! I am jealous!!

Ha. That last photo makes him look like a Rat/Viper Cross or something with how triangular his head looks...must've been the angle of the shot

Aw how lucky are you?! I see huge black rat snakes around my house a lot and they always freeze when you get near them. I didn't get any pictures this year though because I haven't been out and about as much (only seen one in the yard). Now it's too late in the year. The weather is getting colder and I highly doubt I will see anymore snakes until spring time comes along. I wish I lived in FL! I would have been so tempted to take that snake home .

HOLY COW, Nanci!!! He is one massively gorgeous fellow and like others, I'm pretty envious of you for having had such an experience. Kudos to you on your lifer!!!!

I'm surprised you didn't take him home

That's definately an intergrade (not pure grey) ratsnake. What was the size?

Tim

I guess more than four but less than five feet long, 800-100 grams.

Nanci, was he basking sort of like this?


(found this guy last year at Three Lakes WMA)

It always scares me when I see them like that!

VERY nice find!

Yeah, exactly!! Only in a straight line, and flatter, and he didn't have his head raised at all.