Yesterday the next door kids were talking to me in my garage. They are 4 - 6 years old. Suddenly one says "Is that a snake?" On the threshold of the garage there was a snake basking in the sun. I said yes and the kids ran away screaming. Tried to get them and their parents to come over for a teaching moment. No luck.

The snake manages to crawl up into the shrubs by the front door. I'm cool with that. I tell my wife the story. Today wife tells me to get the snake out of the shrubs as she doesn't want to run into it while turning on the faucet.

I go out today and start dragging the shrubs with a long aluminium pole. I'm about to give up when suddenly I pull the snake out from the top of the shrubs. I slowly entice him to the ground and then the yard.


He is about 3.5' long.


I'm guessing someone would tell me that my thumb should be on top.


Belly shot.


This is the snake after being granted freedom at the creek in the back.

Location: Northern Virginia

Initially I thought this was a Rat. However, I now think it was a Black Racer.

Thanks to this forum and the experts. Five years ago I wouldn't have picked the snake up and probably just killed it. I'm a different person today!

EDIT: So much for this new great way to post pics! Ugggh.

Black racer, I think. Unbelievably fast when he took off. Southwest Florida. (Edit - posted this almost the same instant as the one above).

This is a black racer... Good ID.

Yes there is some evidence that they have a mild myonecrotic venom that can cause breakdown of muscle tissue in small animals, but in humans only causes localized skin reactions.

There are a few other species that are considered "nonvenomous" that actually have a mild venom that either has very little or no effect on humans. A couple I can think off right off the bat are hognoses and flat-headed snakes.

Not all colubrids are known to have saliva that contains venomous qualities, but a lot more than you would think probably do. As long as their venom is not dangerous to humans, I consider them nonvenomous.

Learned something new from the thread. Again!

Little rat snake my FIL just caught at house we're renting at Artesian Lakes

Pretty little guy by the creek today...

Only if looks could kill.

Broad banded water snake.

If the fellow is a minnow or a frog.

No step on snek

Looks like a rat snake to me.

I think it's a yellow bellied racer.

Not the resident expert though.

My friend who sent me the copperhead from his golf course in West Austin area just sent me this from the same course.

Yeah, that's a course full of hazards.

Yeah you got the ID on this one. Though it is worth noting that Texas coral snakes have never been documented to have killed anyone.

Arizona coral snakes and Eastern corals have but Texas corals have a milder venom. A Texas Coral could potentially kill a small child but very unlikely to take down an adult.