Everglades Rat Snake

Basic Information:

Scientific Name: Pantherophis alleghaniensis

Habitat: Everglades rat snakes are found throughout the farmlands, forests, and wetlands of Florida, particularly in the Everglades National Park.

Diet: Everglades rat snakes eat rodents, lizards, frogs, and birds and their eggs. 

Size: 3 to 5 feet long

Weight: 1 to 5 pounds

Lifespan: 10 to 15 years in the wild. Up to 30 years in human care. 

Distribution Map:

I.U.C.N. Conservation Status:

What does this mean?

Least Concern – a species determined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (I.U.C.N.) to be pervasive, abundant, and thriving.

Our Everglades Rat Snake:

Mango – Estimated Date of Birth Between 2005 & 2007

Did You Know?!

  • Everglades rat snakes typically sun themselves by day and hunt for prey at night.
  • Everglades rat snakes are excellent climbers that are often found up in trees.
  • Everglades rat snakes are also skilled swimmers, slipping into the water when alarmed to escape danger.
  • Everglades rat snakes are non-venomous. When frightened they will vibrate their tail and expel a musk to scare of predators.
  • Everglades rat snakes have been known to hybridize with the gray rat snake in the panhandle west of the Apalachicola river.
  • Black/Eastern rat snakes and yellow rat snakes also exist. Black rat snakes being found everywhere from Connecticut to South Carolina and west to the middle of Kansas and Oklahoma.

Due to needing time to set up for our Wine in the Wilderness Event, on June 3rd the zoo will be closing to the public at 1pm! We will reopen our doors at 6pm for the event! Event tickets will still be purchasable at our gift shop during this time!