Call them rat snakes, chicken snakes, or black rats. No matter what the experts are naming them this week, these native reptiles are essential, non-venomous members of the Briarhopper Ranch ecosystem. Plentiful across the farm, they are very much friend, not foe. Growing typically between 3.5 to 6 feet long (with the largest exceptional individuals occasionally stretching up to 8 feet), these formidable-looking yet docile creatures are masters of their environment. They spend their days keeping local pest populations in check, feeding on mice and various other unwanted farm pests, as well as other small mammals and bird eggs.
Their seasonal habits adapt right along with the weather. Emerging from winter brumation in early spring, they enter their active mating season from late spring through early summer, during which females lay clutches of leathery eggs in damp, decaying logs or rich compost. Highly versatile in where they live and sleep, you might spot them resting under rock ledges, hiding in dense brush, or even high up in tree branches, thanks to their incredible status as skilled, agile climbers. As temperatures spike in the heat of midsummer, they often shift to hunting during the cooler hours of dusk and night.
If you happen to encounter one during your stay, take a moment to be thankful for the meeting, as they are actively working to keep the ranch clean and pest-free! While they are harmless to humans and will almost always retreat if given space, they can defend themselves with a defensive bite if startled or handled. Like any wild animal bite, this carries a risk of skin infection, so the rule of thumb remains simple: appreciate them from a safe distance, leave the snake alone, and go about your day letting them go about theirs.
