Pantherophis Obsoletus

Black snakes are readily preyed on by humans, American mink, which weighs no more than an adult rat snake and large birds of prey (especially red-tailed hawks). When startled, they may freeze and wrinkle themselves into a series of kinks. If they feel further threatened, they may flee quickly or vibrate their tails in dead leaves a form of mimicry, which makes them sound like rattlesnakes. They are also capable of producing a foul-smelling musk, which they will release onto predators if picked up. They spread the musk with their tails in hopes of deterring the threat. When cornered or provoked, black snakes are known to stand their ground and can become aggressive.
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