The Difference Between a Black Rat Snake and a Black Racer

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If its really aggressive to the point of striking or even chasing you then it's probably a black racer.

Thank you. Now I know I have a black Racer living in my back yard.
I did not know they are different spices.
I always thought they had two different names.

I live in nc i saw a black snake with a yellow belly about 4 ft long in my yard. What kinda snake was it?

I'm a 61-year old lady who lives alone with the requisite 3 cats. One recent morning upon awakening and getting out of bed I had taken only a few steps when I found a black snake curled upon itself on my floor. One cat, Rhu-Bob, was up on my bed highly intent on watching it, another cat, Titian, the suspect, was lounging on the floor near the snake with a look of pride, head back, eyes half-closed and the third cat, Olivia, was not to be seen. Despite my last step landing just about 2 feet away from the snake it did not move. I was appreciative that Titian (TISH-shun, because he is an orange tabby) loved me so much as to bring me such a prize but I was upset that the snake may be hurt. I slowly backed away from it, got a towel, covered the snake with it and started to pick it up when its head appeared out from under the towel; thankfully, it was still alive. I think the coldness of my ceramic tile floor slowed it down. I quickly took a gentle but firm hold of it by the base of its head and held it up above the height of my head to see how long it was. It was about 4 feet long. I found it had a white jaw and a solid gray under belly. Most importantly, I did not notice any external trauma and no blood on my floor. I brought it outside to a sunny spot near the scrub bushes and gently cut quickly let it loose. At first it was still, as if soaking up the heat energy of the sunlight; then it quickly disappeared into the scrub. I hoped it did not sustain any major internal trauma. My cats are not allowed outside in order to spare the lives of other creatures, but the screen of my screen porch has a rip that needs tending and the cats have access to the screen porch through a pet door. i usually rescue lizards, skinks and frogs. I am proud of myself for not falling for society's stereotypical expectations of women; well with the exception of being an "old lady living alone with cats" Ha! I almost forgot to say "Thank-you" for teaching me to identify my black snake as a Black Racer! ~Erika in SW Florida

Black racers love to flock to our yard (in Florida)... especially in the higher grass and the grass of our backyard centerpiece. Earlier today one migrated out to the taller grass right outside of our front door. He immediately started mimicking a rattler by rattling its tail. It was EXTREMELY COOL to hear in person!!! It's amazing to see and learn about animals defense mechanisms!
A friendly reminder to everyone... Remember, these guys are more afraid of us then we are of them! They just want to be left alone and LIVE! So admire them from a safe distance and respect their space!

Thanks for the info, just what I was looking for.

Love the way the rat snake poses so pretty for you. You are the "snake whisperer!"

thanks for this video. what about tongue color? the snake i saw had red tongue.

Awesome never kill any kind of snake I have a ghost corn snake as pet she is very gentle our 2 and 4 yr old grand babies hold her lol but they also know never touch a snake in the yard

Cool

Thanks, great video! I just saved a rat snake from the woods it was trapped in some landscape netting. I thought it was a black racer but I guess not.

Mitch Kramer?

How do I get rid of it, cuz I'm not having it around me or the babys, it's getting to close.😳😳😳

I found a black racer under the big fan thingy

I’ve seen them, don’t like having them near me, But I don’t kill them either. Snakes are hard to like, but that’s no reason to kill it or not give it a break crossing the road.

Are black racers more aggressive and bite prone when being caught vs other species cause I noticed you were holding his head?

Thank you for explaining that I was wondering about it. I was sitting in my yard the other day and a big black snake just slithered right up to me of course I ran. I then found him in the bushes a little later on at the edge of my property but he soon left again. That's what made me start to look into snakes. I also want to say you are a very handsome man. I find you adorable, you are perfect the way you are! Always stay sweet and humble 💛🙂 till next time, God bless.

Ez just look at the head and body thickness.

Thanks! Still helping people like me identify three years later. Just had to cut one out of a bird net and he was on the verge of strangling to death.

Haha I could tell right away which one was the racer just by how you were holding it. I love those little angry guys

North Carolina here - this really helped! Great job brohski thanks!

But you didnt mention the Foul Odor the rat snake secretes.
And the rat snake, is that a Kingsnake, or are there Three black snakes ?

Thanks man been trying to ID a snake in a pic from a fam member

Wow!!! Very cool !! How to hold them like that without getting bit?

I saw what I’m sure is a black racer. Do they live in the ground? It was around my flowers against my house and it all at once disappeared. Then it came back out.

Bro my pet racer is jet black dont even have a white chin is pure black

Saw a black racer in the woods today. I heard it rattle first. Black Racers will coil up, raise their head and stare at you (and occasionally 'mock rattle'). They can see much better than other snakes. They crawl away fast. Rat Snakes aren't too afraid of people and crawl along slower.

Well described, thanks!

Very helpful but isn’t the racer much more aggressive and likely to bite?

I noticed how u were holding the black racer by the head where as the black rat snake u let crawl freely around ur hand which obviously means the black racer will bite!!!!

Very helpful! Thank you, friend! :D

This was very helpful, as at first glance, for a non-snake person, they look the same. We get snakes indoors now and then where I work, we are next to the woods and we have mice, and I suppose compromised areas along our foundation. This week a three foot rat snake, found just making his way down the hall.

What are the differences in their diet or what the prey on?

Thanks ,,,, now i will go and handle the one i have found ,,, good girth ,,,,, i know it was a racer ,,,, quick '

I have both species on my property in Kentucky. The black rat snakes I'e seen out back are over 6 foot long! The racers out front are 4 foot and come up to me before slowly moving away. They're eating up my fence lizards! I also have many copperheads. Does the rat snake eat copperheads?

Black racers are also very very quick. They can move at a very fast pace.

Good video, thanks!

Great vid, thank you for this information 👍

Great information thanks. I have a 4 ft Black Racer now ; ). The brown face is a good tip.

I could tell just from the way you were holding the snakes which was which. A black racer will bite the heck out of you if you grab it carelessly. It is my most common visible larger larger snake in northwest florida. The water moccasin is the second most visible common snake for me.

Thanks! So my girl is a racer, the nose confirms it! Now to figure out if she’s a she or he!

The best way to tell the difference is to pick them both up. The one that turns your hand and arms into a bloody mess is the racer. Notice how the gentleman is holding them both. He's holding the racer at the base of the head, so it can't rip him to shreds while the rat snake's head is free to do so, but doesn't. These two black snacks have totally different dispositions.

What is this? I was trying to add a picture

Awesome thx brother

Still trying to decide which are in the attic I'm working in. Never seen so many in one place. 1850s large stone building, uninsulated roof attic, insulation above ceiling of living space on floor, plaster interior walls leaves 8 inch gap around all exterior walls. Soffits all around have light peaking, planked porch ceiling, gaps where the porch roof rafters join so they can hang out all through. They say rat snakes are more likely inside but this would be prime space for any snake. Temperature controlled building with visitors 1 day a week on average, trees all around, farm fields on one side. Jungle gym of framing made of rough split planks, old true lumber and half split trees for floor joists. 18 inches between raw dirt and flooring planks in the rooms down stairs. So basically the building is a big pile of stone and trees that is warm all year round without people making noise much, but a quiet visit on Sunday. Anyway I can't make out much in the way of markings, shining lights steady on them. Definitely have the light chin and under neck grey white with a touch of the look of glow in the dark plastic when it's not glowing. I've gone back and forth several times deciding which. Wondering which are most likely to live together. Leaning on racers for sure, they aren't shy about coming your way. Even bumping around making noise I'll see one , 2 , 3 moving around, crossing my path, heading up on the rafters, going over to the porch roof wall. They freeze when I first see them then disappear, then I go do my thing, a half hour in they start going about their business. There are holes and skins all through the insulation, every 12 to 18 inches another tunnel. Plenty of old planks and doors to sit under, scrap to run duct over. I'd be sure they were racers but they don't zip around much while watched even when startled. They have disappeared fast when I turn before but mostly move at a leisurely pace or freeze then slow creep. I don't mind them at all. I will say it's hard to get my eyes to adjust, even as a caver it's lit by the sun at one end. Just don't like them on the shoulder level rafters as im working. Have to duck the rafters and the main work spot I'm sitting under wide spaced planks above while sitting on another set of planks with 3 inch gaps that the snakes have squished the insulation down underneath. Look up and there's one on the planks, look down and you see what could be one squiggled or 10. Tail poking here, head there. Really can't figure what they're eating. Guess the field mice across the way may like the warmth too. People visit, maybe eat but they keep it very clean, take the trash from the can weekly. Anyway, been trying to figure it out, writing this on the toilet so it got long.

How to tell the difference between a black rat snake and a black racer? Easy. You're holding the rat snake by the body because they are nice and the racer by the head because they wild. Lol

Do both of them eat copper heads?

Hey kids would you like a eggflower?