Caught a nice little Texas Rat tonight

[Derek1]

I keep a piece of plywood in the back corner of the yard as a snake hiding spot. Seen this one about a month ago but he eluded me and made it to the neighbors wood pile. But got him tonight. Took a couple pics and release him back under the plywood.

[TheLastBaron]

The Texas Rat is one of my favorites. How long was this one? I have one that I keep that is almost 5 foot and has a wonderful inquisitive and friendly personality. I understand that they are not all this way, as I owned one years back that was fairly aggressive. As far as local snakes go, these seem to have the most individual personalities.

[TheLastBaron]

Here is my Texas Rat

[Derek1]

About 3'. Great disposition too. I've caught quit a few and have found as long as you don't pass right infront of their face they won't strike/bite. They are not big on coming back on themselves to bite on what it holding them. Granted I have him restricted for pics, but he was a cool cat.

Yours is pure awesome though!

[Jrich]

Nice black rats. Every time I come across one I want to hold for a minute, they get very defensive and I end up leaving them alone or having to hold them gently behind the head. How do you go about easing one up into your hands?? I rather hold them that way than holding them behind the head.

[sirtalis]

Rat snakes are so cool, i live near a river but my field herping is pretty dang limited because its so overgrown, ill bet if i took the time to find a path i could find some cool snakes.

[Derek1]

Originally Posted by Jrich

Nice black rats. Every time I come across one I want to hold for a minute, they get very defensive and I end up leaving them alone or having to hold them gently behind the head. How do you go about easing one up into your hands?? I rather hold them that way than holding them behind the head.

I've never been bit by a TX Rat yet. Well, a grown one anyway. 1' and under are nippy. But like I posted above if you grab them from their hind quarters and work them like you would any wild snake you'll be good. When/if they start to come at you go straight up and they will typically crater right back down. Work them up to you from rear to head and they will coil around your arm and not move much. But don't move your hands in front of their face and you can manipulate them pretty much at will working from behind them. All this can be done in less than 2 minutes.

Catching wild rats is my favorite. In my area they are the biggest and most feared snake you see, but also the most common. I'm not on a snake catch list or anything. So catching a larger snake in a crowd i.e. party, park playing, anywhere people are freaking out can be very educational.

[Jrich]

Thanks for the tips Derek. Rat snakes are very common in my area as well and they do get quite large and unfortunately people kill them all the time thinking they are cotton mouths. HUGE difference but I guess it's hard to distinguish for people not well versed in snakes.
Yes! That is the main reason why I asked how I can handle them where they won't make such a fuss because I absolutely love when I see one where there are a lot of people so I can use it as a snake education opportunity. People become much less afraid when they see me walking around and calmly holding a snake.
I give up on trying to handle garters and don't even bother with water snakes unless it's a small banded water snake in a crowded place where everyone thinks it's a copperhead.

[Derek1]

Never been bit by a Garter either. Used to catch a ton of them, but haven't seen one in years. My CBB Garter is probably my favorite, he will musk the hell out of you. But he's barely over a year old. Always on the move an great eater.

Water Snakes are a different story. Diamond Backs are the most common here. They get to look like Cotton Mouths and are not friendly at all. And they musk worse than any of them.