What snake is this skin from?

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Just when one of my ducks decided to hatch five ducklings, i come back home and find a snake-skin on my driveway:

The whole skin is about 1.4m long (4½ft). Is it even possible to identify a snake through a dry skin? @Magnolia Ducks - does that look like one of the rat-snakes you had? I am afraid

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I don't know what kind of snake that came off of, but that's pretty neat.

 

[Hobbits Mommie]

http://www.whatsnakeisthat.com/category/region/northeast/west-virginia/

Best guess based on this website, is a black racer. Looks like you only have a couple of venomous snakes in WV and that's a rattle snake and copper head. Definitely doesn't look like those to me.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Looks non-venomous to me, a lot like a rat snake, so the only thing to fear is it eating your eggs. Where*is this at? I don't see "buttons" on its tail like a rattler of any kind...

*misspelled

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Looks like a Buttermilk Racer. Could be a king snake. I have these Buttermilk racers and one left a 72 inch skin down by my pool. They are beneficial snakes. Mostly eat other venomous snakes but can constrict a small duckling. I try to leave them alone to eat the copperheads. They get really long. Don't be afraid,they are the good guys. Definitely not a rat snake.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Do you have buttermilk racers in WV? If not I would go with the black racer suggestion. Black racers will chase you.

 

[Hobbits Mommie]

Just had a thought. Can you safely look under your porch?

 

[Ginmary]

. Black racers will chase you.[/QUOTE]

That's a comforting reply!

 

[Hobbits Mommie]

Do you have buttermilk racers in WV? If not I would go with the black racer suggestion. Black racers will chase you.

My property is covered up with them. I've never had one chase me, but I've never had one cornered either. They've always high tailed it in the opposite direction.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Oops sorry. They are still good snakes, just don't run.​