No matter how many kids you have, there is likely a box of toys somewhere in your house. This is true for mother of three, Jennifer Miyakawa Cloke. The North Carolina mother noticed something peculiar while nursing her youngest.
In a toy box filled to the brim with plastic dinosaurs, was something Cloke didn’t remember purchasing: a big, black snake. She quickly realized that this critter was not some piece of plastic, but instead, a shocking poised rat snake.
Thankfully, Cloke knows a thing or two about these creatures. She says, “Because rat snakes are generally really calm and not defensive, my husband was able to just pick it up and carry it outside.” Before bringing the snake outside, they let their kids come and take a look at the slithering serpent.
Snakes in North Carolina
There are 45 species of rat snakes.
©PetlinDmitry/Shutterstock.com
Did you know that rat snakes are the most common species of snake in North Carolina? It’s no wonder why Jennifer knew what she saw! These snakes can range in color from pure black in the highlands to olive green with dark bands closer to the North Carolina coast.
Excellent climbers, rat snakes may even ascend trees by just grasping the coarse bark with their abdomen scales. They can occasionally be found in vents, ceilings, and basements. These snakes frequently appear in and near residential areas and thrive in well-established locations.
Although the eastern coachwhip can reach nearly six feet, rat snakes come in at a close second, growing to be about five feet in length in North Carolina! Generally speaking, they can grow up to eight feet long!
Are Rat Snakes Dangerous?
Snakes stick out their tongue to help get a sense of their surroundings.
©John Callahan/iStock via Getty Images
Hearing that a family of five were so close to a snake may have you curious how safe these creatures are. Luckily, the Cloke family had very little to worry about. Like most wild animals, rat snakes are shy and elusive unless provoked.
It’s wise to avoid dangerous snakes wherever possible, yet this particularly species are peaceful beings. Constrictors known as rat snakes are non-venomous and widespread. Rat snakes are all constrictors, which means they consume their victim whole after squeezing it to death with their body.
The majority of common rat snakes have the ability to bite when provoked. Although rat snake bites are seldom lethal, they can be rather unpleasant. Getting a bite from one of these snakes contains a lot of microorganisms that can cause an infection.
If you ever find a snake in your house, it’s best to call a professional to get it removed without putting yourself, or a loved one, in harm’s way.
