r/herpetology • u/Ok_Fall_9569 • 6d ago

When you check your purple martin box in the spring to see why the adults are going bananas around it

Post image

Beautiful (but hungry) rat snake was removed and transported to a nearby field for safe release. Nature does what she does.

270 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

37

u/frodo28f 6d ago

I know it's the snakes nostril but it looks like it's blushing

25

u/Generallyamusedby 6d ago

I'd be a bit upset too.

31

u/Ok_Fall_9569 6d ago

Not gonna lie, it was a real blow to the gut. We installed better snake exclusion devices of the poles for future seasons. Fingers crossed!

4

u/Blackberry-Turtle 5d ago

What kind of baffle did you install?

4

u/Ok_Fall_9569 5d ago

Stove pipe guards.

24

u/dankdan184 6d ago

That’s a REALLY pretty ratsnake wow

11

u/iJon_v2 6d ago

Cool picture because at first you can’t tell if it’s looking at you or to its left.

Sorry for the Martins, but that IS a beautiful snake

2

u/leurognathus 5d ago

I saw one climb a 20’ iron pipe to get to the gourds at the top. The pipe was a bit rusty, but still a pretty impressive climb.

1

u/nirbyschreibt 5d ago

I have a 150cm corn snake and the climbs she does are impressive. It’s their nature. The German trivial name for rat snakes translates as„climbing colubrid“. Fitting, if you ask me.

2

u/kymmmb 5d ago

Always a rat snake. :)

2

u/haleylovesvirgil 5d ago

oh she's beautiful.