**Warning** Graphic rat snake and rat pic

[noodleroo]

I almost didn't post this but its probably a good idea; might help somebody. When we had the house re-roofed, a riser got displaced a little and we didn't put a screen over the hole. I was gardening, hear a noise behind me and saw the snake and rat proturding through that hole! I 'enlarged' the hole with my hoe to make sure I could pull them down without either escaping. I made the decision to kill the snake and I wish I wouldn't have; but I have a neighbor that would have a heart attack if she saw either! The snake was about 5' long. The rat w/tail was about a foot long! He was a beautifully marked snake; I do regret my decision...

 

[TwistedSerpent]

Beautiful Texas rat there taking care of business, and one less rat in the world but unfortunatly many more will walk now.

 

[noodleroo]

Yep, exactly. If I had it to do over again, I'd let the snake go....

 

[ellieroo]

Lesson learned

glad the next time the rat snake will have a cheerleader

 

[PineappleMama]

boy oh boy, I'd be hiding in my bathtub if I saw rats that big... that's as big as a freakin' possum!

But, it'd also take a LOT of self control not to kill the snake... but seeing that bugger I bet I could manage. *shudder*

 

[halo]

Are you telling me that rat and that snake were in your house?????

Cant believe that snake ate (or tried to) that big rat. Im really sorry you killed him, he sure was doing his job well.

 

[chickensioux]

Yeah, I'd rather have the snake doing his job than the rat........

 

[noodleroo]

Yep, they were in the eves of the attic! I couldn't believe they were there either and I don't know how either of them got up there. I'm hoping that the snake was chasing the rat and just caught him right there, but I don't think so!!! I haven't heard any noises coming from the attic before or since so I have no idea. Its got a screen on it now so hopefully, no more of either....

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I would be worried about more rats in the attic. I'll take a snake(non venomous) any day over a rat. I'm glad that you now realize how important it is having these kinds of snakes around. I'm sure glad that I have a few around.

 

[noodleroo]

Yeah, like I said, I almost didn't post this. I've always let the 'good' snakes go too, but I have one neighbor who just finished a grueling round of chemo treatments who is very weak and another neighbor recovering from lung surgery that are both terrified of snakes; neither one can even look at a picture of a snake. I feel badly about killing it, but I wanted those of you that haven't seen one in action to see what they can do so you'll let one live if you come across one. This picture really shows the markings on the snake well.

That is a really big rat; I've never seen any rats here-hope that was the only one!