Species

North American racer

Coluber constrictor

A fast, glossy black snake that holds its head high and races off at the slightest disturbance.

Photo Unknown photographer (opens in a new tab) / iNaturalist, CC0 1.0 (opens in a new tab)

Misconceptions

At a glance

Size: Usually 90 to 150 cm long
Habitat: Fields, woodland edges, suburbs and roadsides
Diet: Insects, frogs, lizards, snakes, rodents and birds
In Georgia: Common statewide
Venomous: No
Rabies vector: No

Identification

Key marks: Slim and glossy black with a white chin and throat; young are grey with brown blotches
Told apart from: Central ratsnake, which is duller, less glossy and slower
Told apart from: Eastern kingsnake, which has white chain-like bands
Where to look: Crossing roads and fields by day

Behaviour

Racers hunt by sight with their heads raised, and they are fast. They do not constrict; they overpower prey. When cornered they vibrate the tail in dry leaves and may bite, but they would much rather flee.

Why they matter

Racers eat many rodents, insects and other snakes, and are food for hawks. They are among the most often seen snakes in the Southeast.

Reproduction and lifecycle

Eggs — Usually 8 to 20, leathery
Nest — In rotting logs or loose soil
Incubation — About 50 to 65 days
Hatchlings — Grey, blotched with brown
Maturity — In two to three years
Lifespan — About 10 years

Living around people

A racer is harmless and fast; it will leave if given the chance.

Misconceptions

Black racers chase people. A racer moving toward you is usually heading for cover behind you.

Related species

Seasonal activity

When this species is breeding, and when there are nests on the ground. Mowing during the shaded months is how most nests are found.

Breeding and active nests by month for this species
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Breeding	Jan: no	Feb: no	Mar: no	Apr: no	May: no	Jun: no	Jul: no	Aug: no	Sep: no	Oct: no	Nov: no	Dec: no
Active nests	Jan: no	Feb: no	Mar: no	Apr: no	May: no	Jun: no	Jul: no	Aug: no	Sep: no	Oct: no	Nov: no	Dec: no
Notes	Sheltering	Out on warm days	Active	Active	Mating	Laying	Active	Hatching	Young active	Active	Sheltering	Sheltering

Where it lives

Recorded in 50 states and provinces. Each one links to the other animals there, and to the rehabilitators licensed for them.

Canada

Mexico

Nuevo Leon

If you found one

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