Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm almost sure I have a black racer but everything I can find to read says there belly is black also. this one is white, or off white and the chin is pure white.About 3' and less than an inch in dia. with very slender tail. NE. Ga.

Sounds like what you found is a Black Rat Snake. They (like all non-venomous snakes) are protected in Georgia.

One of the ID keys for a Black Racer is temperament. If it's black and it starts biting you when you pick it up and stops when you release it, it's a black racer.

so the rat snake don't always have blotches on its belly or markings on back or sides?

They normally have some mottling of grey or black on the belly and some "checkerboard" pattern at least up toward the neck on the belly, against a yellowish or white belly color. Those are the only two solid black snakes I know of in your area, and I've never seen a Black Racer with a white belly. Black Racers have smooth scales, Black Rat Snakes have weakly keeled dorsal scales if that helps any...

thanks Oldherper, I'm satisfied its an ol rat, just the most vicious one I've ever encountered, and a little abnormal with the plain belly. I didn't find any keeled scales with a magnifying glass but its still young.