The eastern rat snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) is a serpent of many names, including black rat snake and chicken snake. The nickname "chicken snake" comes from its habit of raiding chicken ...

It's not uncommon to mistake the black-masked racer for an adult black rat snake or another black snake, especially when it's slithering through shadowy areas. As its name suggests, this snake has ...

The milk snake is harmless. The largest species in New York is the black rat snake, reaching lengths of eight feet! These largely black-colored snakes are found primarily along cliffs and rocky slopes ...