When I got home on Thursday, April 21, I saw a branch lying across the driveway. It’s been windy recently, so it’s not uncommon for branches to fall out of the trees. As I got closer and got a better look, I realized it was a snake.

He was about 3 feet long and lying still in the middle of the driveway. I figure he was just warming himself on the road, although the spot was in the shade at the time. I quickly got out of the car and took a few pictures with my Blackberry’s camera.

He didn’t move throughout the process and I actually approached fairly closely for one of the shots. I didn’t know exactly what species of snake he was, but I was sure he wasn’t a rattlesnake. Although he did have a diamond-like pattern, there was no rattle.

I finally grabbed a nearby stick and prodded him a bit. He doubled-back and quickly disappeared in the grass. At that point, Dixie, our Border Collie, came over to greet me and see what was happening, but he was long gone.

I mentioned to Mary that night, that I’d seen the snake and described it to her. She immediately identified it as a rat snake. I did further research and think she’s right.

According to Wikipedia, there are many species, both Old World and New World. They are a type of constrictor, feeding primarily on rodents and birds. Although some Old World species are venomous, they seldom bite and none are considered dangerous to humans.