I have had a serious snake problem in my chicken coop the last week (I had 2 bantam hens raising chicks in the coop, a snake got in at least THREE times and killed one of the hens as well as ate 3 chicks).

After the second incident I ended up bringing the last chick and her momma into the house at night to keep them safe because even though the coop SEEMS secure somehow the snake keeps getting in.

Anyway long story short, last night I caught the rat snake inside the coop, I released her this morning about 1/4 mile down the road near a river (nice shaded lush area). Then after I realized that may have been to close.

Does anyone know if rat snakes have a large territory and if it can find it's way BACK???

It has been hunting in my coop every 2-3 days for over a week, it was actually resting IN the nest box that was last used by my hen and chicks (before they were moved into my kitchen at night).

Short video of the release, that snake is lucky she raided a snake lovers coop, I was very upset over the loss of the hen/chicks and the chickens have been terrified to sleep in their coop since this started.