The Difference Between a Black Rat Snake and a Black Racer 

Hey kids would you like a eggflower?

Found a Rat snake outside my shed. This video confirms for me what type of snake it Is! Thank you!

I'm a 61-year old lady who lives alone with the requisite 3 cats. One recent morning upon awakening and getting out of bed I had taken only a few steps when I found a black snake curled upon itself on my floor. One cat, Rhu-Bob, was up on my bed highly intent on watching it, another cat, Titian, the suspect, was lounging on the floor near the snake with a look of pride, head back, eyes half-closed and the third cat, Olivia, was not to be seen. Despite my last step landing just about 2 feet away from the snake it did not move. I was appreciative that Titian (TISH-shun, because he is an orange tabby) loved me so much as to bring me such a prize but I was upset that the snake may be hurt. I slowly backed away from it, got a towel, covered the snake with it and started to pick it up when its head appeared out from under the towel; thankfully, it was still alive. I think the coldness of my ceramic tile floor slowed it down. I quickly took a gentle but firm hold of it by the base of its head and held it up above the height of my head to see how long it was. It was about 4 feet long. I found it had a white jaw and a solid gray under belly. Most importantly, I did not notice any external trauma and no blood on my floor. I brought it outside to a sunny spot near the scrub bushes and gently cut quickly let it loose. At first it was still, as if soaking up the heat energy of the sunlight; then it quickly disappeared into the scrub. I hoped it did not sustain any major internal trauma. My cats are not allowed outside in order to spare the lives of other creatures, but the screen of my screen porch has a rip that needs tending and the cats have access to the screen porch through a pet door. i usually rescue lizards, skinks and frogs. I am proud of myself for not falling for society's stereotypical expectations of women; well with the exception of being an "old lady living alone with cats" Ha! I almost forgot to say "Thank-you" for teaching me to identify my black snake as a Black Racer! ~Erika in SW Florida

Black racers love to flock to our yard (in Florida)... especially in the higher grass and the grass of our backyard centerpiece. Earlier today one migrated out to the taller grass right outside of our front door. He immediately started mimicking a rattler by rattling its tail. It was EXTREMELY COOL to hear in person!!! It's amazing to see and learn about animals defense mechanisms! A friendly reminder to everyone... Remember, these guys are more afraid of us then we are of them! They just want to be left alone and LIVE! So admire them from a safe distance and respect their space!

The best way to tell the difference is to pick them both up. The one that turns your hand and arms into a bloody mess is the racer. Notice how the gentleman is holding them both. He's holding the racer at the base of the head, so it can't rip him to shreds while the rat snake's head is free to do so, but doesn't. These two black snacks have totally different dispositions.

Haha I could tell right away which one was the racer just by how you were holding it. I love those little angry guys

Thanks for the info, just what I was looking for.

Very educational video. Thanks my g.

I’ve seen them, don’t like having them near me, But I don’t kill them either. Snakes are hard to like, but that’s no reason to kill it or not give it a break crossing the road.

Excellent job, Ethan! You had very good film footage to show exactly what you were trying to get across. Just trying to get people to understand the benefit of the Herps tires me out. People have an innate fear of them. I understand. This leaves your job to show they are not all bad on an uphill climb. BUT DON'T STOP! You did great on this video. Yesterday, I was at the Garden of the Gods (Shawnee National Forest, Illinois) doing landscape photography with a few friends. One was petrified of snakes. Scared to dead she would sit down by one. And guess what happened? Haha, she did! It was a Black Racer and I got several good pics of it. She will never be the same again. =D

Great information thanks. I have a 4 ft Black Racer now ; ). The brown face is a good tip.

Very nice. I like seeing someone appreciating and not killing non-poisonous snakes. they are beautiful and important parts of the environment. I've handled and sometimes made temporary pets of snakes from a very young--maybe 5 or 6 YO--age.

North Carolina here - this really helped! Great job brohski thanks!

Great vid, thank you for this information 👍

I could tell just from the way you were holding the snakes which was which. A black racer will bite the heck out of you if you grab it carelessly. It is my most common visible larger larger snake in northwest florida. The water moccasin is the second most visible common snake for me.

Very helpful! Thank you, friend! :D

Great video! I was following about a 4 foot black snake around by back yard today. Took a couple of pictures that I was comparing to your video and pretty sure it was a black racer. Refreshing to see the humane attitude towards snakes here also. When I tell any of my neighbors that I saw a snake, their first question is "did you kill it?"

Thanks. The differences you spoke about helped me to identify a rat snake I saw today and took photos of.

your editing has become alot better! Good job, Ethan! It looks so much more professional now! (and well, now I can tell those two apart...but they are not native to my area...great...useless info)

Love the way the rat snake poses so pretty for you. You are the "snake whisperer!"

Well described, thanks!

Awesome video Ethan! You're editing is amazing! Looking more professional every video! Good job on the key differences between the species too! Having both species in IL I can say the info you provided won't just work for you, but for people here as well! Shared your video to my Facebook! And I can't wait to see more!

This was very helpful, as at first glance, for a non-snake person, they look the same. We get snakes indoors now and then where I work, we are next to the woods and we have mice, and I suppose compromised areas along our foundation. This week a three foot rat snake, found just making his way down the hall.

please keep making vids I just found your channel and Im loving it

Noicenoice👌👌👌14/12👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌wouldwatchagain

Useful info! Makes me wonder how close they are genetically. Now you should teach us about Black Mambas!

Very helpful but isn’t the racer much more aggressive and likely to bite?

Saw a black racer in the woods today. I heard it rattle first. Black Racers will coil up, raise their head and stare at you (and occasionally 'mock rattle'). They can see much better than other snakes. They crawl away fast. Rat Snakes aren't too afraid of people and crawl along slower.

just found this channel and love it

Good video, thanks!

Thanks, great video! I just saved a rat snake from the woods it was trapped in some landscape netting. I thought it was a black racer but I guess not.

Still trying to decide which are in the attic I'm working in. Never seen so many in one place. 1850s large stone building, uninsulated roof attic, insulation above ceiling of living space on floor, plaster interior walls leaves 8 inch gap around all exterior walls. Soffits all around have light peaking, planked porch ceiling, gaps where the porch roof rafters join so they can hang out all through. They say rat snakes are more likely inside but this would be prime space for any snake. Temperature controlled building with visitors 1 day a week on average, trees all around, farm fields on one side. Jungle gym of framing made of rough split planks, old true lumber and half split trees for floor joists. 18 inches between raw dirt and flooring planks in the rooms down stairs. So basically the building is a big pile of stone and trees that is warm all year round without people making noise much, but a quiet visit on Sunday. Anyway I can't make out much in the way of markings, shining lights steady on them. Definitely have the light chin and under neck grey white with a touch of the look of glow in the dark plastic when it's not glowing. I've gone back and forth several times deciding which. Wondering which are most likely to live together. Leaning on racers for sure, they aren't shy about coming your way. Even bumping around making noise I'll see one , 2 , 3 moving around, crossing my path, heading up on the rafters, going over to the porch roof wall. They freeze when I first see them then disappear, then I go do my thing, a half hour in they start going about their business. There are holes and skins all through the insulation, every 12 to 18 inches another tunnel. Plenty of old planks and doors to sit under, scrap to run duct over. I'd be sure they were racers but they don't zip around much while watched even when startled. They have disappeared fast when I turn before but mostly move at a leisurely pace or freeze then slow creep. I don't mind them at all. I will say it's hard to get my eyes to adjust, even as a caver it's lit by the sun at one end. Just don't like them on the shoulder level rafters as im working. Have to duck the rafters and the main work spot I'm sitting under wide spaced planks above while sitting on another set of planks with 3 inch gaps that the snakes have squished the insulation down underneath. Look up and there's one on the planks, look down and you see what could be one squiggled or 10. Tail poking here, head there. Really can't figure what they're eating. Guess the field mice across the way may like the warmth too. People visit, maybe eat but they keep it very clean, take the trash from the can weekly. Anyway, been trying to figure it out, writing this on the toilet so it got long.

Excellent video! :). You mention living in NC. Looks like the western, mountain region? I live in the Sandhills area of central NC and recently discovered two amazing baby rat snakes in my carport. Naturally, I want to learn everything about them! That’s how I found your video. Good stuff! Thanks for sharing!

Really well done, thanks!

why did you hold them in different way? rat snakes don't bite and black racers do?

Thanks for the info! Was able to figure out what kind of black snake was in my yard. Btw, racer (brown nose)

Totally helped me ID a big rat snake today. Thanks brother!

Awesome thx brother

If its really aggressive to the point of striking or even chasing you then it's probably a black racer.

Did you find these in the same place (i.e. close to each other), or did you bring them together for the video? They didn't seem to bother.

Wow!!! Very cool !! How to hold them like that without getting bit?

Thank you for explaining that I was wondering about it. I was sitting in my yard the other day and a big black snake just slithered right up to me of course I ran. I then found him in the bushes a little later on at the edge of my property but he soon left again. That's what made me start to look into snakes. I also want to say you are a very handsome man. I find you adorable, you are perfect the way you are! Always stay sweet and humble 💛🙂 till next time, God bless.

I love in NC and I bout got bit bye racer it looked the same as on the video

Thank you, very done

I have both species on my property in Kentucky. The black rat snakes I'e seen out back are over 6 foot long! The racers out front are 4 foot and come up to me before slowly moving away. They're eating up my fence lizards! I also have many copperheads. Does the rat snake eat copperheads?

I live in nc i saw a black snake with a yellow belly about 4 ft long in my yard. What kinda snake was it?

Thanks! Still helping people like me identify three years later. Just had to cut one out of a bird net and he was on the verge of strangling to death.

why didint you mention about how one you have to hold by the head?

Are black racers more aggressive and bite prone when being caught vs other species cause I noticed you were holding his head?

What are the differences in their diet or what the prey on?

This was a super helpful video. We saw a black snake today and the color was the faded black you described as the racer but it was laying so still we thought it was dead until it moved slightly. I had read that racers get away quickly from threats so the behavior did not seem right for a racer. My son said the eyes looked blue, so I am wondering if it was molting. Do racers lay very still when they are doing this? Thanks for the great video!

I saw what I’m sure is a black racer. Do they live in the ground? It was around my flowers against my house and it all at once disappeared. Then it came back out.

Black racers are also very very quick. They can move at a very fast pace.

But you didnt mention the Foul Odor the rat snake secretes. And the rat snake, is that a Kingsnake, or are there Three black snakes ?

Thanks man been trying to ID a snake in a pic from a fam member

I love this video!! I just found one in my chicken coup so I came straight to RU-vid 😂 I’m not going to hurt him ✌🏼❤️I’ll just get to the eggs before him next time ❤️✌🏼

BOI WHERE ARE YOU FROM,, YOU MENTIONED NC,, i live basically there

thanks for this video. what about tongue color? the snake i saw had red tongue.

I found a black racer under the big fan thingy

Do you know the differences between Pantherophis Obsoletus and Pantherophis Alleghaniensis and Pantherophis Spiloides? Please do respond as I can't find any articles telling otherwise.

will you be doing a reptile room tour this month?

How do I get rid of it, cuz I'm not having it around me or the babys, it's getting to close.😳😳😳

Thanks ,,,, now i will go and handle the one i have found ,,, good girth ,,,,, i know it was a racer ,,,, quick '

What is this? I was trying to add a picture

Do both of them eat copper heads?

Mitch Kramer?

I noticed how u were holding the black racer by the head where as the black rat snake u let crawl freely around ur hand which obviously means the black racer will bite!!!!

So we should assume that the Black Racer has been "brown nosing" again, eh? LOL

Thanks just found about two and half foot black snake on front steps...by your video he is a rat snake ...good too know with my mole problems he will have a feast😛

Cool

Ez just look at the head and body thickness.

Thats cool. i just found a blue racer!

What state are you in?

deadly sneks

Awesome never kill any kind of snake I have a ghost corn snake as pet she is very gentle our 2 and 4 yr old grand babies hold her lol but they also know never touch a snake in the yard

Thank you. Now I know I have a black Racer living in my back yard. I did not know they are different spices. I always thought they had two different names.

👍👍👍👍👍

Thanks! So my girl is a racer, the nose confirms it! Now to figure out if she’s a she or he!

How to tell the difference between a black rat snake and a black racer? Easy. You're holding the rat snake by the body because they are nice and the racer by the head because they wild. Lol

Bro my pet racer is jet black dont even have a white chin is pure black

I'm not sticking around long enough to check size and shape of scales and eyes, st al!! It's black and a snake....enough said!

What snake is this ? From your video I am inclined to now say rat snake... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mikDqHJXtko.html

I’ve never cringed so hard