Black Rat Snake vs. Black Racer Snake! (What's the difference?)
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- Опубликовано: 22 июн 2018
- In this video, you will learn about the differences between the black rat snake and black racer snake as I present two different individuals I caught in the wild near my house.
If you enjoyed this video, make sure to leave a like and share it with your friends. If you didn't, please leave a comment telling me what I could improve on. For more educational wildlife content, subscribe to my channel. New videos go up every Saturday morning!
/ thewildreportofficial
Also, check out my website for more wildlife information:
backyardwildlife.org
If you've made it this far in the description, remember to be safe when creature adventuring! Most wild animals can cause injury if harassed, and I do not recommend attempting to capture any creatures without purpose and practice. The reason that I interact with wildlife is to produce these educational videos, and I am confident in my abilities to handle creatures such as rat snakes and racers because I have years of zoology experience under my belt. Also, I always ask permission from a land owner before exploring on their property, and you should do the same.
Keep adventuring everywhere, and keep your adventures safe at all times!
-Ben Zino
"To the Lord your God belongs the Heavens, even the highest Heavens, and the earth and everything in it."
Deuteronomy 10:14
#wildlife #blacksnake #snakes
Black Racer: "Did you just call me less evolved ? I'll show you 'less evolved' !!"
Black Rat Snake: "Did you just bite me?!? Such a neanderthal"
xD
"Less evolved" is terrible language to use in any setting, much less an educational one. No behavior or survival strategy is "less evolved" than another, it simply differs from those of other species because of the unique life history traits and selection pressures the creature in question experiences.
@@dingdongism so a coelocanth is just differently enabled when compared to, say, a yellowfin tuna. Try keeping the subjective woke mindset out of science. It works better that way.
@@dougferrell7047 You're misunderstanding a lot about biological evolution, but since you're also being an ass I'm not going to help you out.
@@dingdongism I did not solicit nor do I need your "help." Nothing you said has anything to do with evolutionary theory or science at all. It is purely woke/PC language control that has no place in STEM or a free society in general.
Dude I knew it from the beginning of the video the way that racer was looking at him that that was going to happen. Lol everything about the racers body language told me that.
Wow dude I for real felt the same exact way I didn’t know why but I just felt like he was gonna bite the rat snake as soon as he started to look at him and dude got him close I just had a feeling.
O
He named it Satan, he knew how aggressive it was.
If you look closely, you can see the racer shot the rat snake the finger and made a derogatory comment about his mother....dude!
Yeah it looked like to me also something was going to happen I just felt it
Ben, I'll be honest man, I hate snakes. Always have. But I'm working to get over my fear of them and watching your videos is helping me learn to appreciate them more and more.
Thanks for your work- keep it up, buddy!
It's so cool to hear that Kevin. So glad that you are learning to conquer your fears, and that I could help!
Kevin McMullen I want to catch a snake but I can never find any 😂
Me too
I don't harm ANY snakes, even the venomous ones. I opened the hood on my Ford F-250 two years ago in mid June and found a 5 ft long FAT Timber rattler stretch out clear across the engine compartment. I fished it out with a stout pole, plopped it on the ground and watched it crawl away....
Same here!!!
"I had no idea the racer would bite the rat snake...."
1 minute later, "racers will bite anything. V aggressive. "
A rat snakes lives in my garage.Keeps the varmints and copperhead out.It is a true friend .I found it in my kitchen when it was a baby in Nov under the ref trying to keep warm.a great friend indeed!
This morning 5/10/22 I got woke up by a noise out on the back porch. I got up to investigate and there was a beautiful Black Snake on the windowsill. It was approximately 5 feet long. I hope it stays around. I love Black Snakes. I may start a big campaign called Black Snakes Matter.
Very helpful video. I live in SWFL and have 2 black snakes that are stunned by the 47 degree temperatures overnight. One started moving again as the ground warms. The other is still cold stunned. I hope it lives, they are beautiful snakes and so important to the ecosystem. Thanks for your videos.
Hit a poor small black racer with the weed wacker today..looked up its description to see what it was and found this video. Good video man, thanks
Thank-you, Ben and Bailey (sp?), for not editing out that error in judgment so that we could experience a true lesson, richer than a talk, of the personality comparison of these two black snakes. 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. It did open its mouth but I had a good grip. 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've handled only 3 snakes in my life; a Garter Snake, the protected Indigo, and the Black Racer of my story which you have helped me identify. I have seen many more including the true Coral Snake while I was sitting pulling weeds (red touch yellow kill a fellow, red touch black you're alright Jack), Diamond Back Rattler Snake and several occasions of Pygmy Rattle Snakes. 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! ~Erika in SW Florida
Thank You Erika for your story! That was quite collectedness that you showed. I don’t know if I would have been that calm.
I came into contact with a black racer ever so briefly today. I was outside with my two small dogs when very quickly a small black racer came from the yard onto our patio and slithered away somewhere. He was so quick that I have no idea where he went.
My two cats and two rabbits live indoors as well. I wish more people would keep their domesticated animals inside as it is best for the wildlife and best for our pets health. Where I live in rural Pennsylvania my animals would be easy prey for the coyotes.
Anyway, I was so impressed by your quick response to the black racer and thankful that you released him unharmed into his natural habitat.💞😊
Shit you’re a talker
Those racers are feisty little snakes. I was surprised to see him behave that long.
Yeah he was not always the most pleasant animal to work with haha
That's called lulling you into a false sense of security, before it drops the hammer.
Anytime I have to deal with a black racer, I just assume I'm gonna end up bleeding before I get the damn thing under control.
Black rat snakes, on the other hand, act like the snake version of stoners; they're just so laid-back you have to wonder at how they don't starve to death sometimes.
Very cool comparison, that black racer was more aggressive than any snake I’ve ever worked with! It’s cool to see Bailey working with snakes so comfortably, I remember watching the ringneck video when she was just assessing her comfort level! Well done to both of you. I look forward to many more from you Ben!
Thanks guys, it has certainly been cool to see her get better at working with wildlife!
Thanks to your video I have now come to realize that two of the snakes I caught were black rat snakes and not black racers as I originally thought. I have always loved snakes but didn't know enought about them. I'm learning something! Thanks The Wild Report channel!
Amazing, so glad that my content is helpful to you!
SUPER helpful and well-informed video. Needed this education; thanks!
I found a black racer in my office once. I didn't have a snake stick handy so I caught it with my hands and it definitely took a chunk out of my hand! We both survived so it was all good.
Thank you for this comparison of these two snakes! Now I know that the little guy who I saw this morning was definitely a black racer. Really glad I didn’t try to approach him.😳
But then he slithered away so fast that I don’t even know where he went.
Glad to have found your channel! I’ll be watching more of your videos.😊
Thanks Ben for all of your videos. I have learned so much from watching them. My wife and I live almost in the middle of a game reserve in middle Tennessee, and we have seen probable most snakes that are native to this area, including timber rattlers. Currently, we have a rat snake that hangs around. I pick him up and relocate him,{still in yard} when he tries to get into my shop or chicken coop. Keep the videos coming! THANKS!!!!
Thank you for posting!! Both of your presentations are greatly appreciated!!
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed!
That racer was relatively calm compared to the ones I’ve caught , they will bite you anywhere they can , Most of these are downright savage .
When I first caught this one, he tagged me at least ten times. Here, he only got me once before the video started.
...if you mess with them.
"And he hates me and everyone else" xD This is basically several people I know in one sentence.
Haha snakes have personalities just like people
Thanks for the info very helpful.
Wow, Great video! When I catch snakes, it is very hard to identify when it comes to a black racer or a black rat snake! Even though you told us not to touch black racers. I still strive to continue to study snakes and catch snakes no matter how bad the bite will hurt. Unless it's deadly! But yeah, I look forward to your next video!
Thanks dude! I'm really glad that you enjoyed the video, and that you are passionate about studying snakes.
Awesome video Ben! I will definitely use those identification tips! Best of luck finding some cool animals this week! - Bryan if Trail of the Wild Wild
Thanks Bryan, happy to hear you learned something new!
I just found your videos, keep this up man your good with the animals, respectful and informative, just plain awesome man.
Thanks so much, glad you've been enjoying my content!
@@TheWildReportOfficial what if the snake has a brown or copper color underbelly is. It the same as they are in this video or is it a different species all together. Like the way you did this video. Thanks
I've kept a few Racers back in the day that were pretty calm. Now I won't even pick one up lol
Same here. I'm 40 now. When I was a teen, i would pick up Rattlesnakes and Copperheads. Now I won't even get near a snake.
@@RayRayJr. check me out tomorrow. I'm going out for Garters and Milk snakes in NYC. Should have some luck with the warm weather
Isn't that why I keep the black racers in my yard because they don't let other snakes come around. In florida that is important. :) peace
srq lisa im scared of them all! Bad part of moving from nyc to fl
So cool! That Satan... wow! I had just said I wonder if those 2 snakes 🐍 get along and he hit her! Thanks for all the good info!
Thanks! Yeah he was not a happy camper.
Thanks dude for your channel!!
Absolutely, thanks for watching!
Thanks for the info!
Can you do a video comparing the water moccasin to the northern water snake? I get those mixed up a lot
Awesome! I needed this video, I have a lot in my backyard
Glad I could help!
Just now found a racer on my front sidewalk and have 2 drops of blood on my finger just from touching it . It actually climbed up an oak tree and disappeared within less than 30 seconds . What a great day and magical moment . Thanks for your video my friends .
theyre defensive, NOT aggressive.
also it has been proven that they do not suffocate their prey, but instead they cause the prey animal to go into cardiac arrest.
All true, nice information!
Benzino I saw one roughly 3ft Black Rat or Black Racer or longer in my yard yesterday. It was going east west in my back yard. I saw it and it put its head up in the grass (I had just cut it 2 days prior) and as i started towards it, it sped out so quick out of my fence I had never seen that before. About 3-5 minutes later it comes back and i see it and start to chase it and it speeds out again. Didn't see it anymore that evening but obviously it took me for a loop. We do have fruit trees in 6 buckets in my back yard with 8 more set to go back there. I don't want them around what should I do?
Awesome video! Keep up the good work
Thanks so much!
Thanks for the video.
Go to Southern VA. The Blk Racer there are huge!! I saw one that had to be at least 6ft and thick as a Blk Rat.
Thanks for the info, now I’m sure I have a black eastern rat snake nesting in the back yard. Seen it last year it was 4 1/2 ft this year it’s looking like a bout 6’. The shinny black white bottom and long. Yes it’s an oval head when calm.
Cool, definitely sounds like a rat snake to me!
Good educational video. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed!
I have seen both while hiking in NJ and I have to agree the racers are very aggressive. Just today I was walking and I saw one next to a gardener snake (sorry if spelled wrong) and it must have bit the poor little gardener because it had a bit mark on it. The rat snakes although thicker are extremely calm. I had one that crossed a trail in front of me and when I whipped out my phone to take pictures of it it just laid there calmly in a u shape with it's head down not aggressive at all as I took at my phone and snapped pictures of it. When I was done I actually said, "Thanks buddy." and it just looked at me and then turned and slithered in the other way. Really cool snake.
Great info. I’m in east Texas’ piney woods and was pretty sure I have a 6ft. black rat snake living next to my cottage, but your video confirmed it. The snake’ (Alvin) is calm around me and has stayed in the same area for a year now. I’ve wanted to touch it and you have shown me how. However, I worry that if I touch it, it will get frightened and relocate. What do you think?
Thanks, it's awesome that you have such a big one living near your cottage! I think that depends completely on the attitude of that individual snake, but for the most part when a snake chooses a home it tends to stick with it. I've relocated snakes at the Nature Center multiple times in the same week and they keep coming right back to their happy place.
So while on my patio this afternoon and near the edge of a leafy / wooden area, I saw a snake similar to this. It was about 4 feet long and as round as a half dollar coin. I snapped a pic on my phone then went for my 9mm. By the time I got back, he was gone. Lucky snake.
Great video. I learned a lot. Thanks.
Awesome, so glad to hear that and thanks for watching!
Hey i was wondering something. I got two black racers in my yard. I know it is two different ones because they are different size. The larger one actually likes my screened in patio and garden by my front door. To the point where he will come and lay next to me while i sit outside. Literally within arms reach and he just sits there chilling. I have never seen a wild snake do this before and wondering what you thought about this behavior.
I think it's perfectly normal! In general, snakes are very relaxed animals, and some individuals can become very comfortable with human company over time. You should be proud that the individual in question trusts you so much!
Do racers climb? We have a large rat snake that climbs up our brick and inside the shed sometimes, so I know they can climb really well. I’ve seen a racer in the grass and the second it saw me it just took off the opposite direction that I did, lol.
:( Poor rat snake
Ow yeah they're savages.
Aggressive is a perfectly valid description.
Great video buddy. Also props to your sister/GF.... Sorry I'm not sure what one of those she is to you but you both did a great job!
Thanks! That's my sister, sometimes I rope her into helping me haha
@@TheWildReportOfficial Haha I thought she was but didn't want to assume in case she was lol. But hang in there buddy, you have great informative videos and you'll be the next Coyote Peterson in no time!
I looked these snakes up because my dog just alerted me to one. Walking away, I spotted another one. While watching the second one, the dog alerted me to a THIRD one under the truck.
All about 3 ft long.
Must be the season, mid March.
Love the video! You seem very knowledgeable about snakes, and I was wondering where I should look for snakes in Northern California?
Thanks Sam! Snakes can be found all over North Carolina, but they especially love areas where water is present and they can sun in peace. Ponds, rivers, and streams with rocky and vegetated banks are excellent areas to start looking.
Thanks!
Man. I caught my second black racer today. I was 4 when I caught my first one. I guess, if you catch them in the morning and don't scare or rough house them, they don't bite you. Just want to get away. I had a great time with the one I had today. Just kept him long enough to feel his temp start to rise and out him back in his rock. This guy today only had a white spot on his neck/back part of his chin. No beard! It didn't really go up to his sides of his head, so black (and grey underneath)
That sounds like a really unique individual, great work with the catch!
Great video. Chased a snake out of my garage today and wasn't sure if it was a Racer or Rat snake. But he was fast and spitting mad -- so definitely a Racer. He kept trying to reenter my garage and hide. Do you know why he'd want to do this? Very strange. I eventually shooed him out with a broom -- but he was lunging and biting the whole time.
Thank you! It's possible he was trying to hunt something in your garage and was irritated at your hindering of his plans.
Pretty cool I’ve always chalked them up as black snakes I was reading MD DNR about Maryland snakes trying to identify water snake differences for this girl I’m taking fishing and found out there’s two black snakes this was a well made video I enjoyed it
I got a couple of racers that live behind my house. They definitely have a strike first, ask questions later personality if you corner them. But they usually just haul ass when they see me. Lol
I got some big boy rats living behind my house. So it makes sense. Every now and then I hear them getting a kill.
Do racers eat mice/rats? I came upon a racer today. What's their favorite foods?
I commented, before, on a black snake that stood up about 3’ and looked at me. It must’ve been a black racer b/c it was all black, but I thought , bigger than that one. Long time ago. May be mistaken. Do racers get bigger than that one?
Yes they do, and it was almost certainly a racer because that behavior is known as periscoping and they do it often!
I'm glad I can learn from your videos and greatful for your help. My brother on law actually sees them everywhere and is completely scared by them! Which I find sad. I wish I could know someone here who knows more so that I can learn directly in nature. Fundamentally my guess is that as long there is respect of their habitat we shall not threaten them, this is their home we mutually have to go along together. No need to invade, nor cast them away or even worse, kill them. Guess they teach us calmness and being quiet and on agressive, it has mostly to do with our own fears which they have this capacity to show us. Make a lot of noise when outside or if they happen to cross our way, just let them go their way. Black snakes are often to be seen here.
Thanks so much for watching! Yeah the best way to learn is direct experience, but that can be tricky to get haha
Thank you!
Right befor the one bit the other one I was just saying in my head that it's not smart to have 2 different snake species in the same close area because of that very thing that just happend.
We just saw what I think was a black racer in the mountains of Virginia. It shook its tail in the leaves making a convincing rattling sound. A little scary, but we knew it wasn't a rattlesnake. It was about 4-5 feet long and seemed quite black in color as it crossed our walk and proceeded under our deck. We have lots of blue tailed skunks and other lizards here, so I'm guessing it was on a hunt.
Are we correct with our identification? Sorry, didn't have time to get a pic.
I too have witnessed this Racer defensive behavior in the forest. The first time, disturbed me enough to make me pause and question my judgement on snake identification.
damn ben. satan is wreckless! poor rat snake!!! I am surprised he didnt want to swallow him up whole!! great video as usually buddy, thanks!
This is so interesting. Because I have lived in SE North Carona for only 4 years, on acreage in the country, and I have seen only 3 types of snakes. But 2 of those 3 are a black racer, who loves being in my front shrubs and even sheds on top of them, and a 4 ft. long black rat snake who was in my carport last night, all lumpy from his dinner I suppose, and who decided to spend some time ensconced in the bowels of my Subaru. He would drop his head down and test the surroundings, then retreat back up under my vehicle. Finally, today, he decided it was safe enough to leave. But he didn't go far. While walking my dog, I came across it in the pinestraw under a large water oak, all wrinkly and kinky. Could it be shedding its skin?
Black racers and rats are definitely among our most common species, and at this time of year it's very possible that he or she is shedding or preparing to shed!
Back in 1927 a black racer chased my pregnant grandmother.when my mother was born she was marked with a white stripe from top of head to her rear end.her hair even grew white from the stripe.haven,t seen one in years of being in the forest and fields.
Caught one yesterday and it was about 4 ft and fairly thick, but it kept striking at my hands (I was wearing leather gloves and it struck about 8 times for 5 minutes) and released some smelly musk. So I'm guessing it was a big racer.
Lol. Nah. Racers don’t get that big. And most black rat snakes I’ve encountered were mean as well
Are black racers dangerous to dogs? I just saw one on my brick wall, just kind of hanging out, debating whether to enter the yard. I took a pic with flash, and then it decided to go over the brick wall in the other direction (thankfully!). But now I'm worried that it may be out there when my dogs go out a few times a day (and night).
No, even if a dog were to be bitten it would do almost nothing.
We have both in Oklahoma, I can’t run fast enough to catch the black racer or whip snake or whatever they are. I have seen one that was approaching eight feet long. The only reason I can make that guess was he was crossing a road that is ten feet wide at that point when the snake was in the middle there wasn’t a foot of road front or rear of him. Biggest one I ever saw.
I have a distinct memory of my first aggressive racer. About 6 years old and I was walking the fence line around the yard. Saw a small snake poke it’s head out. I went for a closer look and instead of chilling or leaving, that sucker charged out. I turned and ran screaming for the house. I doubt it chased me far, but dad laughed when he came outside to see what had happened. (Back in the day when you would lock your kids out of the house until lunch) He told me that was a black racer and to remember that they are aggressive. I was going through a phase were I thought snakes were cool and was always trying to get good looks at them. We had a few huge ones that would hang out in our yard. It was between an overgrown field and a working tobacco field.
Me and my sister found a clutch of eggs in an old rotten tree stump. So we filled our wagon with the rotten tree and moved the eggs into the wagon. I used the schools library to figure out they were rat snake eggs. After a few days of me and my sister pulling the wagon around everywhere, mom asked what we were doing. We proudly proclaimed raising snakes and mom freaked. Mom doesn’t like snakes getting close to her, fine watching them climb trees and eat rats, but freaks if she gets surprised. Had dad dispose of the eggs and we were “discouraged” from moving anymore nests. Mom would not go into my grandfather’s shop because he would catch snakes and place them in the rafters to catch rats eating the dog food.
That's so cool! Did the eggs ever hatch?
Thank you for this video. I feared it was a black racer on our porch.
Absolutely, thanks for watching!
2 days ago a snake was crawling on our front security door. I barely touched him with a long thin curtain rod and he left the porch. I now know he was a 2 and a half foot long racer with that thin wiry body especially the tail. Now wishing him well and hope to see him again
"Didn't harm the rat snake" but the rat snake was bleeding what do you consider harm?
My thoughts , exactly
Dear Benzino, the one I found in my yard was like your black rat snake, very gentle and in the gras of my yard she let me caress her while she
Was slowly disappearing among the grass. I have a question, she had sort of a yellow stripe across her face while the once you often showed in your videos I never saw that " mark" what do you say? Thank you for reading me and many blessings to you for your love for snakes, such incredible animals they are. All I know is that we who live in the wilderness here in Arkansas having so many different animals coming into our yard, guess snakes in general if left alone will never come and bother unless, of course when felt threatened they will strike
I found a baby copperhead under my entrance door, we looked at each other for a moment and she was gone her own way, or when stepped on them unavertently, just like a bee
It may have been an Eastern king snake, which has yellow striping and a black body!
Black rat snakes are also pretty fast. I grew up around the woods and we would ride 10 speeds around the neighborhood. I have had a few races with black rat snakes. No, I wasn't being chased but I was 100% trying to race them. The snake was still faster than my little legs pushing on a 10 speed bike.
I totally get why the thin racer maintains its defensive posture. Look how thin it is! Easily stressed out/more bitey.
I have a question about the Black Racer: is it venomous? Not as venomous like a copperhead or a rattlesnake, but venom that is so mild it is not a threat to humans. I was asking this because it's face is similar to the boomslang. Both are colubridaes, but the boomslang bite is very toxic.
No, but that's an excellent observation. I've also noticed that, and think it might have more to do with both species being diurnal, active hunters.
We have a black racer that appears in our garden every so often and we're always worried it could really hurt our little dog if he approached it and then it could bite him. Any info on that?
No, this species cannot do significant damage to dogs.
Gorgeous animals, but I wouldn't characterize racers as agressive. They're extremely intolerant of being handled of course, but they'll never bite at you unless you grab at them first. When I see them out sunning, I make sure they have plenty of room to escape and I don't make any sudden movements towards them, and in response they're perfectly happy to chill there even if I'm just 3 feet away taking pictures. In my experience they're very docile right up until you violate their personal space, and even then their first instinct is to run if they have an escape route.
I live in Missouri. I keep finding these snakes about 3-4ft long. Top is 95% black/super dark green then 5% yellowish spots. Bottom is almost all yellow minus a free blackish spots. They keep hiding around my pool. Any idea what kind? Also they rattle their tail(assume mimicking rattlesnakes) when I chase them off.
I think they could possibly be yellow belly water snakes mixed with some other species. Do you have any pictures?
@@TheWildReportOfficial yes not to sure how to post them on here though lol
I have black snakes in my property, but they have a beige, yellowish belly. Im not sure what kind they are
@The Wild Report What about small dogs like Chihuahuas? We have what I think is a black racer in the yard - it looked like under the mouth was black not white? It was fast and ran at me. Worried my Chiweenie will try to attack it and get hurt.
It wouldn't hurt the dog any worse than a thorn might
Found black racer. Think he’s sick. Not trying to get away. Been there 2 days. Anything we can do for it?
Unfortunately there isn't much you can do for him, that's just how nature goes sometimes.
I have a black racer in my basement. Is it OK to let him stay for rodent control?
Just rescued a racer from some netting and it was one of the most aggressive snakes I've ever seen. I've caught a lot of rat snakes and they have never bit or even tried to bite
Thanks for rescuing it! Yeah they aren't always keen on being handled.
Nice!
A snake got caught in a glue trap and my husband and I got him loose (I volunteered to hold the snake because husband isn't a fan). I thought it was a small rat snake... Now I'm thinking it was a racer 😅 he was opening his mouth a bit but he didn't bite me even after wiggling around. He wasn't fast at all so before picking him up and getting a closer look, I really didn't think he was a racer.
With that behavior it could have been either, baby rats can be a little nippy.
A racer was in my yard. I was ignorant and scared so I tried to move it with a long metal pole. When it wouldn't listen I tried to crush it. Man, it seemed crush proof! Eventually I threw it into the woods with a pitch fork. Now that I know they can be handled by hand without risking death, I still don't know if I could do it. Getting bit still can't be a good thing.
I caught a baby racer yesterday at the lake was trying to see which one it is it’s very calm though
Every individual is different, it's cool that you found a calm one.
Oh gawd we have racers in our yard along with sweet little bunny rabbits.
Racers would only eat small rabbits, adults are too large to subdue and swallow.
So I just moved into an apartment and I saw a snake climbing into a rock pillar it was about four feet long. It was completely black and super fast.. any way to identify it? I’m worried for the safety of my family along with our dog, and of course our neighbors.
That definitely sounds like either a racer or rat snake. Neither is venomous or poses any threat to you or a pet :)
The Wild Report thank you so so much!
@@McKenzi-mr1tz Absolutely, glad that I could help :)
The Wild Report what if her pet was a hamster?
@@AlbertD29 Different story haha
I’ve had a racer chase my bass bait then my boat haha.
okay so I’ve seen this black snack in my front and back yard and idk what it is. The first time I saw it I was walking to my front door coming out of my car and it was about a foot away from me before I noticed it I thought it was a wire in my front yard but it didn’t move at all. The second time I was going into my backyard and I heard noise in a bush like something was running away and I thought it was a squirrel but when I look back I see it’s a pretty good sized snake slithering by my back door. And idk which one it is
Found one in the basement play room floor was cold so it was not too mobile, A shoe lace size 8-10 inches where would the mother Be??
It isn't impossible for snakes to lay eggs in basements, although she is more likely in a forested area near your house.
@@TheWildReportOfficial And assuming the critter came in through an opening that's what I'll tell wifey put the critter outside took awhile for it to warm up THANK YOU for the quick response a hunting will go
You should have known. It's a black racer. One of the meanest snakes on the planet. Right up there with water snakes.
I've NEVER caught a raver that didn't bite me at least twice!! Lol
So how big will a black racer get ? And can you feed black racer large to jumbo rat ? I know black rats can get to 8.5 ft in will eat jumbo , huge rats no problem never seen one eat guinea pig or small rabbit ? Do black rats get thick as ball python ? In we know racers , king , milk , rattlesnake , cobras , cottonmouth , copperhead all eat other snakes so do black rats do and are black rats called indigo snakes too ?
This isn't always the case I'm in Pa. an I've caught very aggressive black rat snakes an super calm racers an vice versa it just depends on the snake itself. The biggest black rat snake I've ever caught was almost 7 feet long an the biggest racer I've caught was just over 6 feet an the black rat snake was much more aggressive js
One of my cats found one in the backyard lawn about an hour ago. I'm pretty sure it was a Black Racer like your "Satan." It was skinny and only about 18" long, and moved very fast. The only thing was it has a white belly, not black or gray. I live in a small town, very close to a lake in the Ozark Mountains in Southwest Missouri. I think it escaped into the neighbor's tall shrub. She killed a smaller snake - a gray one - a couple of weeks ago. She proudly brought it to the front door. Ugh.
Yeah, that sounds like a racer. And oh no :(
@@TheWildReportOfficial Thanks.
@Bliss Keep your cat indoors. Outdoor domestic cats are responsible for billions--yes, billions with a b, multiple billions--of native animal deaths every year in the United States. Don't put a bell on it (those don't work), don't make a bunch of arguments about what a cat "naturally" wants to do (domestic animals aren't "natural," they were created by humans through selective breeding and are by every definition exotic invasive animals that wreak havoc on native fauna); bring it inside and quit letting it out.
I have a juvenile black rat snake mine still has the markings on top. She just started wrapping around her prey. I didn't know they constrict actually. She gets fed pinkies so she doesn't actually hunt really. She tried to bite the first two times I first held her as most babies do but they're teeth are quite small n it doesn't hurt. It scares you more than anything but if you don't react to it they learn there's no point. I will say this that I learned from videos. The colors as a baby get blackened out. If you see a black snake on the east coast (not sure about west) n it looks like there's a pattern under the black like saddles n it's long n fairly dark it's likely a rat snake. I heard that a racer is more likely to run from you than attack unless you try catch it. Rat snakes don't just slither they love to climb. They're more curious n looking for food than to pick a fight. If it's in a shed or house it most likely followed food in. They eat small animals unlike the snakes that eat insects n bugs. Mine was a rescue from a pizza shop due to a closed ice cream shop connected to it, but she's my favorite pet out of all the ones I had.
I appreciate your video but please use better judgement while handling your snakes. I could tell from the onset those two snakes were uncomfortable being that close to one another. Other than that this was a very knowledgeable video. I hope for you as was well as your audience!
If you could predict that strike,I would hire you to be my financial advisor.
Great video, I do have one gripe, you said the racer is more evolved. That is not true, evolution does not act in a linear fashion. Each snake has evolved to fit its ecological niche and one is not "more evolved" than the other.
That's fair, I guess I meant more derived.
Thanks for the video. Moving to Florida from New York in a year and I need to get as much knowledge on the wildlife as possible
Glad it was helpful!
I live in CT. Both of these snakes live up here as well!
God bless you because I couldn’t do it 😞
I don't mind being around snakes as long as my pet mongoose is close by....real close