PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status Animal Group

Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides)

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Photo by A.B. Sheldon

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides) is a species of Special Concern and a Protected Wild Animal. It prefers savanna and oak forest habitats in southwestern Wisconsin and is known to communally overwinter with other bluff prairie species. This snake spends a lot of time in trees where it forages on cavity nesting birds and small rodents. It will often move into barns and other outbuildings in June during the sparrow and swallow nesting season. Gray ratsnakes are active from April through early-October, breed from mid-May to early-June and lay their eggs in mid- to late-July--they are the latest egg-laying snakes in Wisconsin. The young hatch in September, shortly before overwintering.

 
 
 

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.