Northern Black Racer

Coluber constrictor constrictor

Gone in a flash! Racers are long, slender, agile, fast-moving snakes. They are frequently found basking in trees and shrubs. Once warmed, they cruise for grasshoppers, frogs, lizards, and mice, with their heads held high to get a better view of their surroundings. When prey is spotted, they make a quick dash for it. Racers are not constrictors and repeatedly bite the prey until it is subdued. Racers return to the same dens each fall, and often share them with other snake species.

Look For : A shiny, all black to bluish snake with white or gray chin and throat and gray to yellow belly. Smooth scales. Large eyes.

Length : 36-73".

Habitat : Open hardwood forests, old fields, grasslands, prairies, marsh edges.

Range : Northeastern U.S. from Maine to South Carolina, west to northeastern Alabama.