The Baird’s Rat Snake is a species of Colubrid snake that is native to the South-Western United States and parts of Mexico.
Taxonomy
The Baird’s Rat Snake belongs to the colubrid family of snakes. This is the largest family of snakes in the world with roughly 250 different recognised genera.
Until recently, this species was considered part of the Elaphe genus. This is one of the main Rat Snake genera and contains species such as the Japanese Rat Snake and the Beauty Rat Snake.
However, after recent phylogenetic analyses, the Baird’s Rat Snake has been moved to the genus Pantherophis. Its scientific name is Pantherophis bairdi.
Other species in the Pantherophis genus include the Eastern Rat Snake, Black Rat Snake, Great Plains Rat Snake and the Corn Snake.
Baird’s Rat Snake Description
The Baird’s Rat Snake has an orange, yellow, or darker salmon colored dorsal pattern. They also have four stripes that run the length of their body. The belly of the snake is typically grey or yellow and darkens towards the tail.
They are a relatively small species, with adults typically growing to lengths of between 3 and 5 foot. They have a similar build to other common species of Rat Snake.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Baird’s Rat Snake is native to parts of South-Western Texas, in and around the Big Bend region. They can also be found in parts if North Mexico, in Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas. Their range slightly overlaps with the Mexican Black Kingsnake in the Western part of their range.
Their preferred habitat consists of semi-arid and rocky mountainous regions. They are known to be difficult to find in the wild. They can also be found in the limestone canyons of the region and woodlands.
Feeding a Baird’s Rat Snake
A juvenile Baird’s Rat Snake can be fed an appropriately sized rodent every 5 to 7 days. You should aim for a rodent that is slightly smaller than the girth of the snake, at the snake’s largest point.
A hatchling will readily feed on pinkie mice but you should try and convert them over to rats as soon as they are big enough. Rats offer more nutrients to your snake than mice do.
An adult can be fed an appropriate meal every 7 to 10 days. Adults don’t necessarily need to be fed as much as a juvenile as they don’t need the extra energy for growth.
You can supplement your snakes’ diet with the occasional day-old chick, quail or even eggs if you wish. However, the bulk of their diet should consist of rodents.
Baird’s Rat Snake Housing
A baby Baird’s Rat Snake is a very small snake so they do not require large enclosures. You can house them in a small glass vivarium or an appropriately sized tub with adequate ventilation.
A baby snake will find their way out of the smallest of spaces so make sure that the enclosure is escape proof. It is important to remember that your snake will quickly outgrow this enclosure and will need to be upgraded.
An adult Baird’s Rat Snake will be very comfortable in an enclosure measuring 3ft x 2ft x 2ft. This will provide your snake with plenty of surface area to move around as well as some height to climb.
You should include at least two hides in the enclosure, one at either end so you snake can feel secure while thermoregulating. You can offer even more hides for juveniles if you want.
Light and Heat
It is important to provide your Baird’s Rat Snake with a thermal gradient inside their enclosure. This will allow them to regulate their body temperature.
You should aim for a hot spot of around 85F. This can be achieved using an overhead heat source or by using an under-tank heat mat. Whatever heat source you choose, make sure it is connected to a good quality thermostat.
The cool side of the enclosure can drop to between 70-75F. This will allow your snake to cool down and regulate their body temperature efficiently.
The Baird’s Rat Snake does not require any kind of artificial lighting such as UVB. However, they should be exposed to an appropriate day/night cycle.
Substrate
A Baird’s Rat Snake does well when humidity levels are kept at around 50%. This really allows you to choose any kind of substrate for your snake.
You can use a naturalistic looking substrate such as aspen bedding, cypress mulch or coco fibre. These substrates are great for making your enclosure look more natural
You can also use newspaper or paper towel in your snake’s enclosure. These substrates don’t look great but will make cleaning a quick and easy job.
Handling a Baird’s Rat Snake
Many Baird’s Rat Snakes are quite defensive in nature. With time and regular handling, they can become more docile and easier to handle. However, some snakes will always have a jumpy personality.
The first line of defence for these snakes is to vibrate their tail to make a loud noise. This is intended to intimidate a potential threat, by mimicking a Rattlesnake. This technique is used by other colubrid snakes such as the Corn Snake.
If you handle a stressed Baird’s Rat Snake, there is a chance you will get bit or musked on. Regular handling is important to try and calm the snake down. Just wear a pair of gloves and use a hook if you don’t want to get bit.
It is important not to put your snake down straight after it strikes at you. This will tell the snake that striking or biting will get you to leave them alone.
