The Cherokee and ᎦᎴᎩ

Strong scutes (belly scales) on black rat snakes allow them to scale large, self-pruning trees like this green ash,
 a helpful technique for navigating all levels of the forest, from below the leaf litter to the canopy.

Over the past year, I've managed to find a couple of rat snakes, and each time I'm reminded of their cultural legacy. To the Cherokee, who encountered many of these large animals, these snakes were cherished. Their word for snake ᎢᎾᏓ (or “i-na-da") is never used in reference to the ratsnake. Instead, they referred to the animal as ᎦᎴᎩ in Tsalagi, or “ga-le-gi” in modern, English syllabary. Translated, this means “one who climbs.” This name is attributed to the large, glossy and muscular snake’s almost magical ability to climb trees too large for it to wrap its body around. These amiable creatures live for years, and feed on annoying deermice (Peromyscus spp.); which had a direct correlation to preserving food, as the mice were a serious problem. The Cherokee respected these animals in the mountains,  Wouldn’t it be awesome if people still realized the value of snakes today? In this culture, rat snakes earned a place amongst other, more dignified animals; why are they still persecuted?

A Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides), coiled around a Shumard oak sapling,
watching for mice in the grassland below. Meadowview Marsh, TN.

Many farmers today, of all cultural backgrounds, often provide perfect habitat and refuge for rat snakes in barns, corn cribs and sheds, yet many others continually kill the vagrant rat snakes they find on their farms. Being some of the most docile snakes, they are excellent and beneficial critters to have around. Don’t like the fact that rat snakes eat the eggs and chicks? A properly built brood box and a secure coop that is closed at night will easily fix that problem. Also, that’s just responsible chicken care; the only reason to forgo those care requirements is laziness. Take it from a fellow caretaker of laying hens; don’t kill snakes just because of negligence. Especially since they've been living on private land and helping the overall environment more than most people. And maybe an extra egg should be left out for resident rat snakes every now and then, after all, the snake is relieving you of many ticks, diseases and property damage by killing rodents. So remember the kindness of the blacksnake and let it be when you encounter one at your home and on the trail. There is no reason to kill a blacksnake because it is a "nuisance," only fear and misinformation, something this planet definitely doesn't need any more of.

Worried about a snake bite? Rat snakes will only bite defensively; if you are not directly threatening their life, they are completely docile, nonvenomous and harmless. Often, wild rat snakes can even be picked up and handled without any concern of a bite. In fact, this Eastern Ratsnake's (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) bite was less painful than the nip of a puppy, it only looks violent and creepy. If bitten, simply put the snake down and clean the bite area if it breaks the skin.