July 28, 2021
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April 21, 2021
This Eastern ratsnake visited us while we were recording the Native Plant Society's April walk. While Mary Lee Epps pointed out the Autumn Olive along the school trail, it patiently laid it's head on the fence and seemed to listen along. The Eastern ratsnake is the longest of the snakes found in Virginia and, according to the Virginia Herpetological Society, the only one to reach over 6' in length. You can see in the picture that it's scales are slightly "keeled". This is one way to distinguish it from another black snake found in Virginia, the Black Racer. Black Racers have very smooth scales.
I don't know why this particular ratsnake was not shy of us and, I admit, I was grateful for it's company. In that spirit of harmony, Happy Earth Day tomorrow.