Did the Chinese say that 2025 is the year of the snake? In the last 12 days, I have responded to 10 rescue calls and rescued 9 of them (one Common Krait escaped before I reached the spot).
A large Rat Snake sneaked into a home through their bathroom window. The residents were scared and all of them pretty much were standing on their living room sofa when we went in. While Rat Snakes are non-venomous, they are extremely quick and large ones can beat with their body when we try to handle it. Since they are so quick, we have to use our bare hands and not the pipe and hook as we do in the case of venomous ones.
The key is to make it comfortable without too many movements and calm it down once caught. One of my worst snake bites was from a Rat Snake which I caught inside a school classroom. All the kids around, and some of them wanting to touch it, made the snake angry and gnawled on my thumb after a took a few steps away from the school. Lesson learnt the hard way.
This was an easy and peaceful rescue, unlike the one caught in a net earlier.
Rat Snake Fast Facts
- Scientific Name: Ptyas mucosa (Indian Rat Snake)
- Completely Harmless: Despite their size and speed, rat snakes are non-venomous and completely harmless to humans.
- The Sprinters of the Snake World: One of the fastest snakes in India, they can zip away at surprising speeds when threatened.
- Master of Disguises: When cornered, they often flatten their heads and hiss, mimicking a cobra to scare off predators.
- Farmers’ Best Friends: They feast on rats and rodents, helping to control pest populations in agricultural areas.
- Climbers & Swimmers: Equally comfortable in trees, on the ground, or in water, they are highly adaptable.
- Big but Not Dangerous: Can grow up to 9 feet long, making them one of India’s longest snakes, but they prefer to flee rather than fight.
- Overconfident Defenders: While harmless, they often put up a dramatic show when threatened—hissing loudly, and lunging (without biting).
- Mistaken Identity: Due to their behavior and appearance, they are often killed unnecessarily, mistaken for cobras.
- Diurnal Hunters: Unlike many snakes, rat snakes are active during the day, searching for prey in open fields, barns, and even urban areas.
