The black rat snake is sometimes mistaken for the black racer, but looks very similar to the gray rat snake when young. It occurs in Northeast Georgia. There are four other subspecies of E. obsoleta E. o. quadrivittata the yellow rat snake E.o. Coloration may vary from light gray with dark blotches to dark charcoal with lightly defined blotches. The belly is white.
Hatchlings are more vividly colored and patterned.
Eastern U.S. into southern Canada and west to Texas in hardwood forests, wetlands, farmland, barns and sometimes in birdhouses. Rats, mice, birds, eggs, other small mammals. The young feed on pinkies, frogs and lizards. Large birds of prey and carnivorous mammals feed on adults. Raccoons, armadillos, opossums, fox and birds could feed on eggs.