Who is this little guy?

[halo]

Im starting to see this little guy every afternoon around my flower beds. In fact I nearly stepped on him today. I was working on some flower beds, and saw him over and over again. This picture makes him look big, but he's not. Maybe as big a round as my big toe, and maybe 2 to 2 1/2 feet long. Im thinking its a black racer, from the speed I saw from him when Punkin spied him and took off after him.

 

[WalkingWolf]

Looks like a black rat snake, most snakes can be fast when they are intimidated.

 

[bturbo87]

black racer would be more common especially if it does not get territorial. yet if he raises his head most have a white spot on his chin. but if territorial be careful because it could be a cotton mouth we have a few of those in our back yard and i am over here by the border of GA and FL

 

[dieselgrl48]

Not sure here.Not familiar with southern breed's.There are other breed's futher south We don't have here in Va.So far this year havent saw ANY here.But again We haven't gotten all the duck's out to creek and pond yet and not free ranging many of the new bird's.I am weary with the grandson walking now and outside more.I know We had a couple of copperhead's here on occasion though grrrrrrr.I will probably whack everyone I see no matter what color.

 

[WalkingWolf]

It is not a cottonmouth.

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

Just a black racer, they are everywhere here in Orlando FL. Pretty harmless though they can 'act' aggressive when cornered...

 

[Swampwood]

I can almost see if it has a round pupil..If it does, it's a rat or racer. Cottons have a vertical(cat) pupil.

 

[WalkingWolf]

Unless it is a reflection it appears the white continues on to the belly of the snake making it a rat snake. All the racers I have seen the white stops at the neck and the rest of the snake is black. All of the rats I have caught have a white or lighter belly. It defiantly is not a venomous snake.

 

[halo]

I was wondering about the white extending a bit further than its chin. But I was reading on black rats, and from what I can find, we don't have black rat snakes here, which is why I was thinking black racer.

Besides, I found a half grown rat in my feed bin today, so if its a black rat snake, he aint doin a very good job.

 

[ourlittleflock]

black racer - we have already killed one this year and another one got away --- not going to be around us or my children or my chickens!!