Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just saw a 3ft long black snake crawl across my patio. We live on West point lake in Georgia and every time I mention seeing one of these I'm told it is cottonmouth. It certainly doesn't look like a pit viper to me.

This particular snake is slender and all black (not glossy) in color. I have seen several of this particular type of snake here and also at my place in South Carolina (also near a lake). The head and general body shape is similar to that of the garden snakes I caught in western Oregon as a boy.

I was hoping these were kingsnakes but I can't find any pictures that match what I am seeing. Any clues?

Doug

The black racer is one of the most common and conspicuous snakes in the southeastern US and one of the most likely to be seen out during the day away from the edge of water (they can be seen around water, but they can also be seen far from wet areas).

Here is a photo of a Black Racer from the Savannah River Site, near Aiken, SC.

-----
Chris Harrison

...he was beginning to realize he was the creature of a god that appreciated the discomfort of his worshippers - W. Somerset Maugham

Thanks Chris;

Yours is the first picture of so many I've seen that was clear enough to get a match.

What is the black racer's primary diet? We have more than enough mice here.

Doug

The racer feeds on reptiles, amphibians, & rodents. It has been known to eat venomous snakes, including corals. The attached site has some solid info on all of the venomous snakes in your area, with decent photos & info on snakebite avoidance & first-aid treatment.

~~Greg~~
Florida's Venomous Snakes

The one I had fed mainly on anoles, beings I was in Florida there was no shortage so I'd catch some anoles and the racer would eat em up. Frogs and mice work well also.

hey, check the dnr in ga if this is something you want to keep, ga laws suck and anything thats possibly local is out of the question and they do raid and fine i live around your area, nightmare, no rats ,corns, racers, pines, water, and as of two weeks ago no venomous unless your a zoo, this list is huge, i see these off of the savannah river all of the time i would love to have a pair but i have alot of snakes and the thought of the dnr taking anything kills me , safe than sorry, d
http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=6&txtPage=2
Link