Gray Rat Snake

Pantherophis spiloides

A harmless, tree-climbing constrictor of the eastern and southeastern United States that eats rodents, birds and eggs.

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About the Gray Rat Snake

Gray rat snakes live in the southeastern United States, north to southern Indiana and west to Louisiana. They live in pinelands, cypress swamps, marshes, farmland and even neighborhoods. They are gray with dark blotches. Gray rat snakes are not venomous; they squeeze their prey, which includes small mammals, frogs, lizards, birds and eggs. They are often found in trees.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Pantherophis spiloides^[2]
Size: Adults average 36 to 72 inches (91 to 183 cm). The longest recorded was about 84 inches.^[1]
Lifespan: 15 to 20 years in the wild.^[1]
Diet: Small mammals, frogs, lizards, birds and eggs. Kills by constriction.^[1]
Habitat: Pinelands, cypress swamps, marshes, farmland and neighborhoods.^[1]
Where it lives: Southeastern United States, north to southern Indiana and west to Louisiana.^[1]
Babies: 5 to 27 eggs, laid in summer in rotting plants or hollow logs. They hatch in fall.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2016).^[2]

Fun facts

Gray rat snakes are not venomous. They squeeze their prey.^[1]
When threatened, a gray rat snake may rattle its tail to imitate a venomous snake.^[1]
Unlike other rat snakes, gray rat snakes keep their blotched baby pattern as adults.^[1]

Vocabulary

constrictor: A snake that kills prey by wrapping around it and squeezing.
venomous: Able to inject poison by biting or stinging.
blotch: A large, uneven spot or mark.
mimic: To copy the sounds or actions of something else.
cypress swamp: A wetland forest of cypress trees growing in standing water.

See it in person

Montgomery ZooMontgomery, Alabama · Reptile JunctionSee this area on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Animal Info. “Gray Rat Snake.” https://seaworld.org/animals/facts/reptiles/gray-rat-snake/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Pantherophis spiloides (Midland Rat Snake).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/90069659/90069671 (accessed 2026-10-02)