Let’s keep it rolling – or better yet, slithering – on #WorldSnakeDay 🐍 with the Texas rat snake! This species is a constrictor, meaning it suffocates its prey, coiling around small animals and tightening its grip until they can no longer draw breath before eating them. Though they will often consume mice, voles, and rats, Texas rat snakes are far from specialists at this kind of prey and will readily consume any small vertebrate they can catch. Other prey opportunistically eaten by this specie

YOUNG BLACK RATSNAKE ID – Here’s a snake that goes through several colorful changes during the first few years of its life. AskMDC provides some helpful identification tips in this short video. #WisdomWednesday -- Kristie@MDC | Missouri Dept. of Conservation

Although the sight of a rat snake may stoke fear in the hearts of some people, this often-misunderstood reptile is not your enemy. This large, nonvenomous snake derives its common name from its food preference — rodents. These snakes can be found all across the state. So if you spot one in your yard, it's probably helping control a rodent problem you might not even know about. For more information on rat snakes, visit our species profile at: bit.ly/3gGm4w9 | NC Wildlife Resources Commission