Is this a black rat snake?

[ProGeek]

This guy is hanging out in the goat stall.

[joebob]

Looks like it. It would be good to keep around to keep the rodent population under control. But if you have chickens I have been told they will eat eggs and small chicks.

[florida44]

looking at shape of head pretty sure not poisonous but I am no expert. When I see or hear of a snake I go running and screaming like a girl so I never get a good look!!! 

[SS-Preppers]

That's what it looks like to me.......they have just a very faint patterns on the underside and the rest is all black............

[ProGeek]

It has a faint brown pattern and white chin. We are going to try relocating it from the stall.

[Nemo]

I see no venom indicators.  Head shape has no triangle to it and (from what I can see) pupil shape is round.  Either of those is definitive.

Look him in the eye, if round pupil, no venom.  If slit like a cat, surely venom.

Coloring also indicates no venom. That color it could only be possibly a cottonmouth.  But headshape voids that.  A cottonmouth that large would be serious triangle head.

If you get him safely in hand, look at his underbelly.  See below.

Nemo

[florida44]

yep good luck with that. I never intend to get close enough to see THAT part of a snack, venomous or not!

[Starlady]

Seriously, don't pick it up to check underneath.  That's how something like 75% of snake bites happen, either from a 'hold my beer' moment or someone thinking they've killed it & try to pick it up.

Yes, it sure does look like a rat snack.  They are constrictors and in addition to your eggs and little chicks they WILL strangle a medium size chicken (I've seen pics).  One I had was curled up in the coop and tried to present itself as a rattler, head up, tail shaking.  While they aren't venomous, the bite DOES hurt, I'm told and you run the risk of infection.

Amazon sells 4' snake tongs if you want to move it.  The only time I ever ordered GUARANTEED overnight from them, lol.

[Nemo]

yep good luck with that. I never intend to get close enough to see THAT part of a snack, venomous or not!

That was the response I expected.  HeHeHe

But really, the only snake you need fear is the Snow Snake*.  Ga is too warm in the winter to have any real threat of those so you are good.  We have very few in Va but if you get up way up north they are rather common.

Nemo 



*snow snake threat is they sneak up your pants leg, crawl up your backside and freeze you to death