Baird's Rat Snake

(Elaphe bairdi)

Color Photographs: © by and courtesy of Jonanthan Crowe

Baird's Rat Snake (Elaphe bairdi)

Identification: Snake 25 to 55 inches in length. Body color gray brown. Body with 4 dull brown-black, lateral lines. Scales edged orange-yellow toward the front of the body and orange or salmon toward the rear. Belly light yellow to light gray, becoming darker toward the tail. Scales weakly keeled and anal plate divided.

Geographical Variation: None.

Range (see map on left): This species occurs in central Texas westward into the Big Bend Region, and southward into northern Mexico.

Habitat: Baird's Rat Snake is found in wooded canyons of the Edwards Plateau and in the desert and upland regions of the Big Bend Region.

Food: Small mammals, birds, and lizards.

Behavior: Baird's Rat Snake is a slower mover than most of the rat snakes and is reasonably docile. However it will hiss and strike if threatened.

Reproduction:  The clutch consists of 1 to 10 eggs laid from late June to August.

Baird's Rat Snake (Elaphe bairdi)

Similar Species:

Eastern Rat Snake (Elaphe alleghaniensis)