Thursday, August 8, 2013

Singleton Gray Ratsnake

We see lots of snakes at Singleton Lake and they are all safe. I have two nesting boxes for the endangered gray/black ratsnake and have provided other shelter as well. The ratsnake is a constrictor, mainly preying on small mammals. Its natural predators include Red-tailed Hawk, Osprey, Raccoon, Fisher and Mink.

"The major threats to the species include being run over by vehicles - given their length and tendency to move slowly across roadways, deliberate slaughter by humans and habitat loss due to increased development."

This harmless snake can live up to 25 to 30 years, but due to the species' tendency to only lay clutches of 10 to 15 eggs late in their life cycle every two or three years, even small threats to the Gray Ratsnake have major implications for its overall survival. We are doing everything we can to promote them at Singleton Lake. This gray ratsnake was maybe 5 feet long judging by my foot... they need a place to live and thrive as well.

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