Copperheads, while venomous, are rarely aggressive without cause. Black rat snakes, on the other hand, are completely harmless to humans and serve as natural pest control.

Preferred habitat: Black rat snakes aren’t picky when it comes to habitat. They can be found in yards, suburbs, fields, pine forests, and almost everywhere else.

The Everglades are the most snake-infested area in the state, primarily due to the invasive non-native species, the Burmese Python. These include species like the Southern Black Racer, Banded Water ...

Often, what we’re seeing in our yards is a brown snake, a black rat snake or a black racer snake -- all non-venomous. Here’s how to tell them all apart.

One common snake that is sometimes confused with the venomous copperhead is the similar-looking chicken snake (also known as the eastern rat snake).

A woman in Missouri found a black rat snake in the hood of her car while driving her son to baseball practice.

A woman in Missouri found a black rat snake in the hood of her car while driving her son to baseball practice.

A woman in Missouri found a black rat snake in the hood of her car while driving her son to baseball practice.