Question about Pantherophis obsoletus

[LadyWraith]

This weekend while camping, we watched a big black snake swim from the opposite shore of the lake (about 1/4 mile). It came onto land right next to the dock where we were fishing. We didn't know at the time what species it was and luckily it went under a rock pretty cause other campers were convinced it was venomous and needed killing :/ We got a good look later when it was warming up on the pavement right by our truck. My ?... are these generally found swimming? It took me awhile to figure out what it was cause I've never seen a rat snake going for a swim lol.

[sweatshirt]

Which state are you? I live in Florida and we have banded water snakes... they can sometimes appear pure black. Black racers also swim sometimes.

I'm not a snake expert so hopefully a herper can some along and help you.

[StudentoReptile]

I personally have witnessed a grey rat snake swimming across a river here in Alabama. I have seen a documentary or two where footage of a cornsnake was swimming as well (could have been staged).

I imagine it happens from time to time, when the snake wants to get from A to B, and a small river or stream is the only obstacle. Obviously, any snake can swim if necessary. Ratsnakes are like, the tri-athletes of the U.S. in my opinion; you can potentially find them in any habitat; in trees or the rafters of barns/sheds, attics, swamps, meadows, forests, hiding under something, etc.

[LadyWraith]

Originally Posted by sweatshirt

Which state are you? I live in Florida and we have banded water snakes... they can sometimes appear pure black. Black racers also swim sometimes.

I'm not a snake expert so hopefully a herper can some along and help you.

Oklahoma. We were in SE part of the state. We have water snakes here too, but the pattern was wrong for a water snake. Racers are common but the pattern and body was off. Definitely had no issue identifying the species once I stopped focusing on what it wasn't.

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

I personally have witnessed a grey rat snake swimming across a river here in Alabama. I have seen a documentary or two where footage of a cornsnake was swimming as well (could have been staged).

I imagine it happens from time to time, when the snake wants to get from A to B, and a small river or stream is the only obstacle. Obviously, any snake can swim if necessary. Ratsnakes are like, the tri-athletes of the U.S. in my opinion; you can potentially find them in any habitat; in trees or the rafters of barns/sheds, attics, swamps, meadows, forests, hiding under something, etc.

True true. I know most (if not all) snakes are decent swimmers. I'd never seen this species in the wild (usually we find little earth snakes, water snakes, and garters) so I was just floored to see it swim all the way across a lake lol. I was also surprised cause the water was down right cold. Wish I'd gotten a picture. It was a good sized snake and pretty chill. Just slithered around our campsite a bit before heading back into the woods.