Eastern Ratsnake or Black Racer?
bob_cville
I've seen this snake around our yard in central Virginia several times over the last few years, I've narrowed it down to either an Eastern Ratsnake or a Black Racer, but haven't decided for certain between the two.
If it helps in the identification I have an impression of its bite pattern.
Because of this I have nicknamed the snake Mr Bitey.
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Hard call ... I'll defer to the people who are more familiar with it. \\
black racers have "a white chin and a grey belly" while the rat snake has blotches . I'll let you pick up "Mr. Bitey" and check where the white ends and if he has blotches or a grey belly
Hard call ... I'll defer to the people who are more familiar with it. \\
black racers have "a white chin and a grey belly" while the rat snake has blotches . I'll let you pick up "Mr. Bitey" and check where the white ends and if he has blotches or a grey belly
I'll politely decline to pick him up. I don't think either of us would enjoy it. However I found another photo that might help, from when he was crawling in the rafters of the garage.
That looks like blotches to me -- so I guess that points to Eastern Ratsnake.
People usually say they are mostly harmless and will only bite if you step on them or something. My guess is that was what happened. I was pulling weeds that were sprouting up through the vinca patch in our front garden. I moved and reached for a weed, and felt a pricking sensation in the back of my leg, and thought I had snagged a thorny vine, such as wild rose bush, or greenbriar, or wild blackberry. I reached down to dislodge the vine rather than yank my leg free, and discovered the "vine" was about 1 inch in diameter, and black and bitey. Even though the rational part of my brain knew it was likely the non-venomous snake I had seen several times before, that part was overruled. I leaped about 6 feet in the air, screamed like a little girl, and ran for the house.
It's an Eastern Rat snake (black rat snake). Rat snakes crinkle there bodies up like in your 5th picture, black racers bodies stay mostly straight. Black racers live up to their name and flee when seen and rat snakes usually freeze in place. Great snake to have around your property. They will eliminate any mice you have along with chipmunks and large ones will eat squirrels.
Definitely an Eastern Ratsnake.