| This study deals with the documentation of two road killed Indian Rat Snakes (Ptyas mucosus) from different territories. Snakes, like other organisms, play an important role in our ecosystem by balancing the food web. Snakes are both predator and prey. They naturally control the population of mice, other small rodents and other snakes by devouring them. Indian Rat Snake, a widespread species belonging to family colubridae, order squamata and class reptilia, is ecologically important non-venomous snake species and are often referred to as the friends of farmers because they control a large percentage of rodents, who in turn are responsible for destroying our standing and stored crops and spreading diseases. Urban roads, state and national highways, while facilitating human transportation, pose a significant threat to wild fauna. The speeding motorized vehicles on urban roads, state highways (SH) and national highways (NH) traversing through cities and towns are proving themselves as graveyards for ecologically important urban wildlife especially snakes, other reptiles and mammals. Through two case studies, the frequency, location and circumstances of road kill of Indian Rat Snakes has been discussed.
Keywords: Indian rat snake, colubridae, snake mortality, road kill, Motihari, WPA 1972, schedule II, linear infrastructure, habitat fragmentation, wildlife, conservation.
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