Id this snake?

[bamagecko76]

Hey guys. found this snake in my basement, scared the daylights out of me. I Can't figure out what type it is, any ideas? thanks!
[IMG][/IMG]

Ps. This occured awhile ago, The snake was safely released.

[muddoc]

Looks like a yellow rat snake that may be in the middle of a shed cycle. If it's not a yellow, it may be a grey, but it is definitely a rat snake.

[MattU]

Man our ratsnakes around here have that odd yellowish color, but their not yellows I dont think Ive always heard they're black rats with a strange coloration.

[TJ'sHerps]

I will go with Gray Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta spiloides) also. Could be a Black Ratsnake. Even an intergrade. They are so variable in color/pattern. I have seen Black rats that size with dang near the same color/pattern, and I have also seen the that size that are jet black. I am leaning more towards Gray, because they cover more of Alabama than Blacks do.

Here is a range map:
http://www.dlia.org/atbi/species/Ani...soleta_map.jpg

[bamagecko76]

Ok thanks guys, I kinda suspected gray rat and what yall said confirms it.

[DutchHerp]

The North American rat snakes have been stuffed up with taxonomy lately. I suggest just calling it what you've called the rat snakes in your area for your whole life... either way, it's some kind of rat snake.

Later, Matt