What kind of snake?

[Rambleonrenae]

My friend came across this snake when she opened her door to step out yesterday. Luckily she didnt step on him. But she did remember to get a picture even though she was scared to death lol. Im not familar with a lot of different types of snakes but she wanted to know what kind it was. I thought perhaps a rat snake. This photo doesnt really do the colors of this snake justice, if you can enlarge it , that may help. Its redish/orangish, brown and black. It was very beautiful and approx 3.5 feet long. It was sunning itself in front of her back door. Also we live in East Tennessee mountain/lake area.
If anyone wants more pics let me know I can get a couple more from her. Thanks for taking a look and answering :) ~Renae

[Xanafein]

it doesn't look like any venomous snakes i know of in that area, looks like some kind of coloubrid sp?

[Rambleonrenae]

It does look like a colubrid of some sort. It is not a venomous snake. (We have a lot of copperheads and timber rattlers around and sometimes a pygmy rattler and black cottonmouths, (all pit vipers) but the last 2 are not seen much in this area. It is very common to come across the copperheads/timber rattlers daily here. And since we are very active outside, we've had to learn which snakes to stay away from lol, we know those VERY well lol)

[Xanafein]

lulz the head looks to snubby to be a corn snake, but its hard to tell and i am very far from an expert, i want to say king snake, do they live in your area?

[Rambleonrenae]

We have King snakes, Rat snakes,corn snakes, water snakes, ring necked snakes, worm snakes, garters, racers, too many to name lol...I was just hoping to narrow down my search with someone with more knowledge than me. Ive looked at so many pictures today and just cant seem to find one that fits it.

[Xanafein]

lol GL id hate to lead you down the wrong path with bad geusses hopefully someone more experienced will come soon

[Rambleonrenae]

thanks :) and I hope so, its driving me nutty lol (not that I need any help with that) :D

[ct851]

im callin it a rat snake

[ct851]

A yello rat snake

[TeaNinja]

that's prolly a great call, it does look just like a yellow rat.

[Rambleonrenae]

thanks guys :) appreciate it :)

[Jenn_06]

looks like a chicken snake or yellow rat snake. here is my yellow rat
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o284/joejenn06/roxy/4-14-2009.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o284/joejenn06/roxy/4-14-20097.jpg

[Rolf Oldenburg]

I would say yellow rat snake, i had 1 my self at exaclty looks like it

[stephanbakir]

I want to say yellow rat aswell, but it's hard to tell with the way the photo glares a bit.

[crimsonking]

There aren't yellow rats in TN but close relatives like gray rats. The exact Genus/species/subspecies is up for debate I suppose but it's an eastern ratsnake.
The cornsnakes in that area can be somewhat different than what we are accustomed to seeing in the hobby. Generally speaking, they may have a more plain grayish ground color and lighter more pale reddish blotches.
Your snake is one of the two and I'm thinking ratsnake w/o better pix.

[Rambleonrenae]

I've seen the 'better' pics, but I don't have them. This snake is definately more red than anything. We have a lot of rats around, just wasn't sure what kind this one was. Ive seen a bunch of the black/gray ones. Always fun to see the local animals for sure ! Thanks everyone for all the replies!!

[crimsonking]

the ratsnakes can have quite a bit of red especially in between the scales. If the blotches hinted toward red then it could have been a corn.
:Mark