Male Gray Rat Resting his head

This picture brings back memories. When I was a kid, my Dad caught baby gray rat snakes occasionally and brought them home for me to see. They were a gorgeous gray and maroon in color. We had to persuade the idiots in our area that they weren't copperheads. I'd keep them for a few hours and occasionally overnight before we let them go in the woods behind our house. Dad's bringing these guys home is what gave me an interest in and kept me from fearing snakes.