This is a picture of a Great Plains Ratsnake
Young Great Plains Ratsnakes are almost identical to young black rat snakes. Adult males have longer tails than the females.The size of the Great Plains snake is 610-914 mm, in other terms 23-36 inches in total length. the longest rat snake ever known was a male that was 1295 mm. or 51 inches that was found in Wabaunsee County, KS. The maximum length for this snake is 60 1/4 inches.
The great plains ratsnakes are found on rocky hillsides, canyons, and in caves in Western Kansas. In the Eastern Kansas they are found in woods or along woodlands. The snake is active from March to September.The ratsnake is primarily nocturnal, prowling for food. The animals that eat the ratsnake are hawks or other big birds.
The classroom habitat is in a glass aquarium with a rock and a small bowl full of water.The ratsnake eats small mice in the classroom.
For food, the rat snake constricts its prey and feeds primarily on small rodants and birds. In caves, most ratsnakes eat bats. It is presumed that they breed soon after emerging from their over-wintering retreat. The ratsnake lays from 4 to a dozen eggs, usually between late June and early July. The hatching probably takes place in September. Ratsnakes are simular to black ratsnakes. The local name for the Great Plains rat snake is ''house snake.''