Eastern Rat Snake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyColubridae (Colúbrids)
- GenusPantherophis (North American Ratsnakes)
- SpeciesPantherophis alleghaniensis (Eastern Rat Snake)
The central ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis), also commonly known as the black ratsnake, chicken snake, gray ratsnake, midland ratsnake, and pilot black snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The gray ratsnake is one of eight species within the American ratsnake genus Pantherophis. Wikipedia →
40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Eastern Rat Snake sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 391 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Corn Snake
Pantherophis guttatus
Common Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
Ringneck Snake
Diadophis punctatus
Eastern Worm Snake
Carphophis amoenus
Black Kingsnake
Lampropeltis nigra
DeKay's Brownsnake
Storeria dekayi
Eastern Milksnake
Lampropeltis triangulum
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
Rough Green Snake
Opheodrys aestivus
Queen Snake
Regina septemvittata
Redbelly Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Isle Royale National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Eastern Rat Snake in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
About 41% of wildlife watchers report a Eastern Rat Snake sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 391 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Eastern Rat Snake in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Eastern Rat Snake in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in our monthly data.