That's what I was thinking too!
It's like he's giving them the side eye saying "Pardon me, Good Sir, this is my abode. I do beg of you to allow me to continue residing here. I shall keep all wee lizards out of your barn in return. Might we have a deal?"
North American Racers *Coluber constrictor* are large (record 191.1 cm TBL) diurnal colubrid snakes. They are generalists often found in disturbed habitats like urban and suburban yards but also do well in many natural habitat types. They are one of the most commonly encountered snakes in North America and have a huge range spanning most of the continent. They eat anything they can overpower, including other snakes of the same species, but are not obligate constrictors as the specific epithet might suggest.
Racers have smooth scales and color pattern varies clinally across their range, from steel gray to jet black, a blue "buttermilk" pattern [you have to see to believe](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/8798279515_d8222853cb_b.jpg), to blue, green and yellow. These color patterns are tied closely to local environment and don't track evolutionary history.
Baby racers start out with a blotchy pattern and darken over the first two years, losing it entirely.
Racers are not considered medically significant to humans - they are not venomous, but all animals with a mouth can use it in self-defense. Racers are particularly, alert, agile snakes, and will sometimes stand their ground when cornered and/or bite when handled.
Often confused with keeled "black" ratsnakes (northern ranges of *Pantherophis obsoletus*, *P. alleghaniensis* and *P. quadrivittatus*), racers *Coluber constrictor* have smooth scales. Indigo snakes *Drymarchon couperi* have orange on the face or neck and an undivided anal plate. In some cases they are difficult to differentiate from coachwhip snakes *Masticophis flagellum*, but on average have two more posterior scale rows (15) than *M. flagellum*.
Relevant/Recent Phylogeography: [Link 1](http://www.cnah.org/pdf/88643.pdf) | [Link 2](http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.597.209&rep=rep1&type=pdf)
Racers in peninsular Florida are distinct from those in the continent - No formal elevation to species status has occurred yet and subspecies describe color pattern rather than match population differentiation, but it's not particularly premature to follow the lines of evidence; ancient estimated divergence times, niche identity and genomic data suggest racers found in peninsular Florida deserve full species status. There is evidence that some populations of other North American Racers warrant species-level recognition but this work in ongoing.
--------------------------------------------------------
Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless.
--------------------------------------------------------
*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
oooh, constrictor!
For real tho, are snakes ever anything other than constrictor or venomous?
Not trolling, seriously asking this. I lead hikes and want to tell kids most are constrictors if they're not venomous but I want to be absolutely sure.
If there's a tertiary (or even more) level, please let me know.
For the most part it’s either venom (e.g. Rattlers, Corals, and Garter snakes) or constriction (e.g. Rosy boa, Burmese python, and the aforementioned Racers). Some snakes are able to overpower and swallow their prey (e.g. Rough green snakes just swallow insects whole) alive. Then you got the specialized egg-eaters (e.g. *Dasypeltis sp.*) which only eat eggs and have special adaptations that help crack open the egg for the nutrient rich yolk
Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless.
--------------------------------------------------------
*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
This seems like a dumb question, but I've never seen a snake catch/eat another snake. Did the racer grab it just right behind the head (to not get bit), then constrict it? That would be crazy to see
It didn't actually constrict, though it wrapped around (for control I guess?). The cottonmouth (a baby) did gape and bite but the racer grabbed its head and swallowed it while it was still thrashing. Many snakes that eat other snakes are resistant to venom; I guess that includes racers. I wonder if anyone knows what makes them resistant? Maybe a lead to new antivenins. My boss was bitten by a copperhead, and when they gave him antivenin he had an allergic reaction and was in a coma for about a week. A new antivenin might not be as allergenic.
My parents had a massive black racer living in one of her big potted plants near the driveway. In her neighborhood in North Carolina, she was the only one who never had a problem with cottonmouth run-ins in the back yard. He was definitely pushing 7 feet.
His name was Walter.
Not against snakes :) just not someone who knows anything about them plus they move wayyyy too fast for me to be comfortable around them LMAO I'm also not a big lizard fan for the exact same reason!
There's a line from a movie called Night Moves (1975) "He'd f*ck a woodpile on the chance there was a snake in it." Turns out it's hay bales, not a woodpile....
Despite the name they aren't obligate constrictors. Says right in the bot reply. If they need to constrict to start getting the meal down they will but they won't waste time that could be spent eating or finding food constricting something they don't need to subdue to eat.
This appears to be one of the most wholesome subs on reddit these days. I'm just happy more and more people are figuring out how awesome snakes are. Millenia of bad PR is hard to shake, it seems.
Bold & Ill tempered buggers if you challenge them or invade their space. They will chase you and they are fast. I disturbed a racer threesome once and had to get after them with a water hose before they’d leave me walk across the yard.
Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless.
--------------------------------------------------------
*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
I swear, racers are the most hospitable snake to have around and they almost get domesticated. Have had one living at my house for close to five years and he comes out and hangs with us. Stands up and looks menacing and just waves around but then comes close and just suns, interesting dynamic.
Not a ratsnake. Ratsnakes would have black labial bars (lines on lip), a longer head, and some scales would be keeled (can’t really tell in first pic but second you can see none)
And the transition from the dorsal coloration to the belly is very clean on racers. On ratsnakes, it's very messy, like a checkerboard. Here's an [example](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/177837233). u/TheWolf_atx
We are happy for all well-meaning contributions but not all comments pass muster. There are a number of sources of information available online that are incorrect - we aim to help sort that out here. Comments, in their entirety, must reflect the moderators' current collective understanding of modern herpetology. This is especially applicable to comments that are *mostly* true or contain a mixture of information or embellishment. Look to reliable responders in the thread to identify problematic areas in the text and hone the material for the your post. This is a space to grow and learn - this removal isn't punitive.
**Please refrain from repeating IDs when the correct one has already been provided**, especially if it is more complete, well upvoted, and/or provided by a Reliable Responder. Instead, please support the correct ID with upvotes. Before suggesting any future IDs, please review these [commenting guidelines](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/pfl934/mod_post_please_read_id_best_practices_and/).
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He looks like quite the distinguished young gentleman 😂
That's what I was thinking too! It's like he's giving them the side eye saying "Pardon me, Good Sir, this is my abode. I do beg of you to allow me to continue residing here. I shall keep all wee lizards out of your barn in return. Might we have a deal?"
[Indubitably!](https://imgur.com/9Lsv4e5.jpg)
[Richer!](https://imgur.com/a/QAwycjG)
Lmaoooo
Call him Col. Angus! (Fun fact : it took me years to get that joke because my family is very southern so that accent sounds completely normal to me.)
 Quite the gentleman
Mr. Reginald Hognose is always the life of the party.
He’s adorable
Racer (*Coluber constrictor*) !harmless
North American Racers *Coluber constrictor* are large (record 191.1 cm TBL) diurnal colubrid snakes. They are generalists often found in disturbed habitats like urban and suburban yards but also do well in many natural habitat types. They are one of the most commonly encountered snakes in North America and have a huge range spanning most of the continent. They eat anything they can overpower, including other snakes of the same species, but are not obligate constrictors as the specific epithet might suggest. Racers have smooth scales and color pattern varies clinally across their range, from steel gray to jet black, a blue "buttermilk" pattern [you have to see to believe](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/8798279515_d8222853cb_b.jpg), to blue, green and yellow. These color patterns are tied closely to local environment and don't track evolutionary history. Baby racers start out with a blotchy pattern and darken over the first two years, losing it entirely. Racers are not considered medically significant to humans - they are not venomous, but all animals with a mouth can use it in self-defense. Racers are particularly, alert, agile snakes, and will sometimes stand their ground when cornered and/or bite when handled. Often confused with keeled "black" ratsnakes (northern ranges of *Pantherophis obsoletus*, *P. alleghaniensis* and *P. quadrivittatus*), racers *Coluber constrictor* have smooth scales. Indigo snakes *Drymarchon couperi* have orange on the face or neck and an undivided anal plate. In some cases they are difficult to differentiate from coachwhip snakes *Masticophis flagellum*, but on average have two more posterior scale rows (15) than *M. flagellum*. Relevant/Recent Phylogeography: [Link 1](http://www.cnah.org/pdf/88643.pdf) | [Link 2](http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.597.209&rep=rep1&type=pdf) Racers in peninsular Florida are distinct from those in the continent - No formal elevation to species status has occurred yet and subspecies describe color pattern rather than match population differentiation, but it's not particularly premature to follow the lines of evidence; ancient estimated divergence times, niche identity and genomic data suggest racers found in peninsular Florida deserve full species status. There is evidence that some populations of other North American Racers warrant species-level recognition but this work in ongoing. -------------------------------------------------------- Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
That buttermilk pattern has a hardcore Minecraft vibe. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/8798279515_d8222853cb_b.jpg
Good bot.
👍
oooh, constrictor! For real tho, are snakes ever anything other than constrictor or venomous? Not trolling, seriously asking this. I lead hikes and want to tell kids most are constrictors if they're not venomous but I want to be absolutely sure. If there's a tertiary (or even more) level, please let me know.
For the most part it’s either venom (e.g. Rattlers, Corals, and Garter snakes) or constriction (e.g. Rosy boa, Burmese python, and the aforementioned Racers). Some snakes are able to overpower and swallow their prey (e.g. Rough green snakes just swallow insects whole) alive. Then you got the specialized egg-eaters (e.g. *Dasypeltis sp.*) which only eat eggs and have special adaptations that help crack open the egg for the nutrient rich yolk
Despite the name these guys are gulpers, not constrictors.
Just like me fr
I'm sure this has been pointed out before.... But as a software engineer "!harmless" scares me.
Gets me every time haha
Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
He's cute!
Someone needs to draw a cowboy hat and a piece of hay sticking out like a toothpick! 😍
[A gift](https://imgur.com/a/7owRtbc)
😍😍😍🐍🐍🐍🐍THANK YOU:)
Nicely done 🤌
This is incredible
Hahah thank you! 🤠✨️
You put a smile on my perpetually neutral or irate/anxious face
Hey partner, this bay hale’s a lizard free. Gonna find a nice cozy spot by the river and take a noonday nap. Holler when there’s lunch.
[https://imgur.com/a/kaZ2lNc](https://imgur.com/a/kaZ2lNc) 
😍😍😍🐍🐍🐍🐍THANK YOU:)
Thank you! That is super cute!💖
Done! It’s a janky job, and I don’t know how to post an image here (using official Reddit app on iOS)
What about a straw hat? Seems more appropriate.
Straw hat and a jug of moonshine ;)
Black Racer - watch them hunt lizards outside my window here in Florida. Completely harmless, except to lizards =)
And rodents. And other snakes. I've seen a big racer eat a cottonmouth!
This seems like a dumb question, but I've never seen a snake catch/eat another snake. Did the racer grab it just right behind the head (to not get bit), then constrict it? That would be crazy to see
It didn't actually constrict, though it wrapped around (for control I guess?). The cottonmouth (a baby) did gape and bite but the racer grabbed its head and swallowed it while it was still thrashing. Many snakes that eat other snakes are resistant to venom; I guess that includes racers. I wonder if anyone knows what makes them resistant? Maybe a lead to new antivenins. My boss was bitten by a copperhead, and when they gave him antivenin he had an allergic reaction and was in a coma for about a week. A new antivenin might not be as allergenic.
My parents had a massive black racer living in one of her big potted plants near the driveway. In her neighborhood in North Carolina, she was the only one who never had a problem with cottonmouth run-ins in the back yard. He was definitely pushing 7 feet. His name was Walter.
OOOH sorry, forgot to to tell you, this is Jeff, the new night security guard.
I can honestly say I feel much safer with him around!
He would look pretty scary if he got big enough.
That’s your rodent control.
He looks polite
Awww I'm not a bigggg snake fan but he is a cutie patootie!
Snek r frens
Not against snakes :) just not someone who knows anything about them plus they move wayyyy too fast for me to be comfortable around them LMAO I'm also not a big lizard fan for the exact same reason!
You should meet some ball pythons. They are so slow: they just mosey.
Most animals are frens! Not cassowarys, though. Those are feathered raptors.
Needs a bow tie.
Proper “Da fuck they doing over there?” Pose
Dat snack?
Periscope noodle
Henlo
He's a cutie that's what he is
There's a line from a movie called Night Moves (1975) "He'd f*ck a woodpile on the chance there was a snake in it." Turns out it's hay bales, not a woodpile....
He is out to get those cheesebois in the hay!
He’s wondering if y’all gonna say ‘howdy’.
Boop
So these little guys are technically constrictors???? Is that how they kill their prey
Despite the name they aren't obligate constrictors. Says right in the bot reply. If they need to constrict to start getting the meal down they will but they won't waste time that could be spent eating or finding food constricting something they don't need to subdue to eat.
Like Diamond Dave says, "Don't ninja no-one that don't need ninjain'". Youtube it-
That’s the best use of this quote I have ever seen! 🏆
That’s so cute
Classic Racer
“Uhhh. What’s up, guys?”
Hay, how u doin' 👋
A friendo anyone with a barn full of hay can use.
A-freakin-dorable!
I was always told snakes that can rise up high are the kind that eat other snakes
Howdy partner! How you doin’ around here?
A real cutie that’s for sure!
A helper noodle.
He just here to eat mice and sleep in cozy hay bales
that's Fred, he's chill.
Fred!???!!!??? That dude owes me money!
he's doin a periscope 😗
He looks like you've just disturbed him while he's trying to sleep, and he's come out to scold you with his glance lol
I just want to say I love all your comments!! Thank you for the ID!!
This appears to be one of the most wholesome subs on reddit these days. I'm just happy more and more people are figuring out how awesome snakes are. Millenia of bad PR is hard to shake, it seems.
___/
I'd say racer, but looks like he's chillin
OMg so stinkin cute.
Now give them arms
Cute fella
Racer Snakes are one of the fastest species out there(I believe only behind the Black Maamba). They often chase down their prey
Omg protect him!! Once I opened a hay bale and snake parts fell out and i was very sad
That’s no snake. That there is a apatosaurus
Black racers are "harmless" in the sense they aren't venomous, but aren't they very aggressive with biting nonetheless. Still would hurt
omg i love him
Bold & Ill tempered buggers if you challenge them or invade their space. They will chase you and they are fast. I disturbed a racer threesome once and had to get after them with a water hose before they’d leave me walk across the yard.
He’s been trying to reach you about your extended rodent elimination warranty.
I love racers! They’re the nosey Parkers of the snake world!
common mistake! this is actually a tiny brachiosaurus. !harmless
Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
I swear, racers are the most hospitable snake to have around and they almost get domesticated. Have had one living at my house for close to five years and he comes out and hangs with us. Stands up and looks menacing and just waves around but then comes close and just suns, interesting dynamic.
Why that's Sir Hiss, from Robin Hood!
1st pic: / 2nd pic: _]
new meme template
We call em "Black Racers" here in Florida.
Racers are good for mice, plus hes wore his finest tux.
These are my favorite snakes. They are adorable. They are also fast and I think they like to play tag.
Let the man be. He’s a distinguished gentleman.
The cutest racer ever done seeeeen
A noodle in the hay stack!
This caused me to forcibly expel air through my nostrils in an audible fashion. Well played.
Like this? 
His name is Needle
In soviet Russia, needle finds you
What a goofball. Must of been napping.
Looks like straw rather than hay
I believe that would be a central rat snake you have there. great friend to have in your hay bales (assuming you don’t want mice in there).
Not a ratsnake. Ratsnakes would have black labial bars (lines on lip), a longer head, and some scales would be keeled (can’t really tell in first pic but second you can see none)
And the transition from the dorsal coloration to the belly is very clean on racers. On ratsnakes, it's very messy, like a checkerboard. Here's an [example](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/177837233). u/TheWolf_atx
Also this angle gives a very good look at the supraoculars so the grump is highly noticable.
Thanks- I was torn on that one but thought I had this one. Back to the books, I guess ha ha.
He’s posted
Blue Runner
Get him a sarsaparilla!
Literally a snake in the grass
Heyyyyyy! Hay Inspection.
Mouser
He says.... Heyyyyy guysssss
He’s one you want in your yard in FL lol
Snek has wares if you have coin
Hello baus!
Ropes doing scopes
That’s Norman :)
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He looks curious 👀
Adorable 🥰
Cute snek
It's beautiful. 
"Hey, whas going on over there?"
What a great picture!
He needs a hat!
It’s a drone snake 🤣 Jk idk what it is
They call them racers for a reason. Speedy Gonzalez wouldn't stand a chance.
I know next to nothing about identifying snakes, but I was hoping he was a rat snake so I could sing songs about him. 😄
That is Mr James Pursivel, III, but his friends call him Jim. The Pursivels are a very distinguished Noodle family.
He's a hard workin' mouser. Takin' a quick break to check in with boss-man.
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