Question for you snake people…
Is this SFD or an old scar near the neck of this WC black rat snake. Caught in North Carolina.
Any tips for identifying it? Thanks!
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Knowing that its WC, so no prior history to being collected, there’s no telling what that might be.
Were you the one who collected the Rat Snake? Or did the previous owner say anything about it?
It looks pretty bad though, I’m personally leaning towards it being a scar considering that a portion of the lower left side neck is concaved a little bit 
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Old healed scar. Beautiful snake!
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Thanks for the reply. I caught it about 2 weeks ago. It was breeding with a smaller male in someone’s garage and the homeowners wanted them removed. I have him too.
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I agree. The way the neck is shaped under the scales looks like an old wound.
If there’s any bumps along the body I would be wary of that too because that can be encapsulated parasite cysts or early fungal signs.
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That’s very cool! What will you do with the hatchlings?
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I know this may be controversial but I’m going to release them.
Relocated snakes have a low survival rate from what little information I have seen. The only option I had for the adults was euthanasia or relocation. Obviously I wasn’t going to do euthanasia.
Knowing the low probability of survival for the gravid female, I chose to keep her until she laid. Then release her and her offspring in hopes some would survive.
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I didn’t mean to put you on the spot publicly! 
I’d do the same.
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