Snakes with red and black stripes can range from deadly poisonous to completely harmless, so it’s important to be able to distinguish between different species. Look for red, black and yellow or white banding around the snake’s body to identify a coral snake, a highly venomous snake in North America.

Black snakes are harmless to people, he said, and great for the yard — they keep away mice, rats and other snakes. Two black snakes coil around inside a plastic tub. Black snakes are among the 31 harmless varieties of snakes in Virginia.

North America is home to a wide variety of snake species, most of which are members of the non-poisonous Colubrid family. Many of these snakes are black or very dark brown with white or light-colored markings. Several black and white snakes are common throughout the United States.

Thamnophis sauritus sauritus

The black snake is not venomous and most species aren’t known to be aggressive, but if they feel threatened, they will bite. Rat snakes are excellent swimmers, so their first choice is to flee.

The adult snake is black with a white or creamy yellow chin and throat. In contrast to the black racer, the belly of a rat snake is a mixture of light and dark, giving a somewhat mottled appearance. A juvenile rat snake is gray with light spots running down the middle of the back, and has white eyes.

The main difference in appearance between the black racer and black rat snake lies in the glossiness of the snake’s skin. Black racer snakes out glosses its duller cousin, the black rat snake, whose skin offers up a dull, ridged appearance.

Eastern kingsnakes
Description: Description: Eastern kingsnakes are large — 36 – 48 in (90-122 cm) — shiny-black, smooth-scaled snakes with white or yellow chain-link bands that cross the back and connect along the sides. Because of this pattern this species is also referred to as the chain kingsnake.

If the snake has a speckling of red on its side, then it is a Coast garter snake (Thamnophis elegans terrestis). The Coast snakes eat almost any small thing that moves, including insects, snails, small amphibians, lizards, mice and birds.

Both racers and rat snakes are beneficial to humans. They eat large amounts mice, rats, and other rodents. Both are non-venomous and will only bite if they feel threatened. They are helpful snakes to have in a field, farm, or even a backyard.

Black Snake Bites The black snake is not venomous and most species aren’t known to be aggressive, but if they feel threatened, they will bite. Rat snakes are excellent swimmers, so their first choice is to flee. Usually their size is the most intimidating feature, not their bite, as some can reach 8ft in length.

The most common snake here in Virginia is the black snake. Most people don’t differentiate between the three types when they see one. They just say they have seen a black snake. Black snakes mate during the spring time of the year and are out and about.

Both the Eastern Copperhead and Eastern Hog-Nosed Snake are found statewide in Virginia. The pattern of the Eastern Hog-Nosed Snake can vary greatly and thus isn’t a reliable identifying characteristic. The upturned snout of the Eastern Hog-Nosed Snake is unique among Virginia’s snakes.

The average size of an adult Southern black racer snake is around 20 to 56 inches, although the maximum length of an adult snake can reach approximately 70 inches. They can live up to 10 years both in the wild or in captivity.

Black Racer Snakes is a good pet snake for the first time snake owners because most of the time it has been seen that Black Racer Snakes are harmless to humans as well as other big pets. However, they can attack small animals and pets like rodents, mice, rabbits, and many others.