# Can this snake be identified

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-snake-be-identified/631513>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 15, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-snake-be-identified/631513 "2012-08-15T00:42:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-snake-be-identified/631513/21 "2012-08-15T19:26:14Z")

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> [@dauerbach](#):
>
> Just the other day I saw that exact snake at my house. I was wondering what kind it was. What I really noticed about it was the peculiar bends in the body, rather than being either smoothly curved or straight. What is up with that waviness?
> 
> I live in Maryland, so that sucker can really get around.

They are known for holding that wavy posture, it is one of the characteristics used to identify rat snakes. Personally I would lay it straight like “hay guise, I’m not a scary serpent, I’m just a fallen limb, umkay?” But rat snakes are pretty fast and successful and can climb the devil out of a tree, so I guess they know what they are doing.

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