Black racer snake how fast

They also eat lizards, frogs, and of course rodents. In fact, many Florida farmers appreciate black racers for their pest control. Unlike some snakes that lie in wait, black racers will actively hunt for their prey. Their eyesight is sufficient to see small critters moving, and they can quickly overpower lizards, moles, frogs, mice, and even small birds! Black racers go anywhere the food is, including wetlands, waterways, forests, and fields. They tend to be found on farmland as well.

At night, they sleep in burrows or even in the trees. Like most snakes, they enjoy sunny days and tend. Then, they will strike and ferociously defend their territory. While black racers are non- venomous, their bites still hurt and, as with any animal bite, can become infected. Always give a black racer space if you see it. It most likely wants to get away from you and keep hunting! Black racers are very territorial and defensive. A black racer bite is not venomous but can definitely be painful.

Racers hunt by sight and are often observed actively foraging during the day. They are not active at night. They eat a wide variety of prey including insects, lizards, snakes, birds, rodents, and amphibians. In turn, they are preyed upon by a variety of predatory birds, mammals and snakes such as kingsnakes and larger racers. When captured, prey are not constricted and are consumed alive.

Racers are faster than most other snakes, very agile, and generally flee when approached, often climbing into small trees or shrubs. If cornered, however, they do not hesitate to bite.

Although primarily terrestrial, they climb well and are occasionally observed sleeping in vegetation at night. Racers mate in the spring, and females lay up to 36 eggs in early summer.

Eggs hatch in late summer or early fall. Conservation Status: Racers are common in our region and are not protected throughout most of it. This species is protected throughout the state of Georgia.

Plummer, M. The black racer is black with no markings. The blue racer is a gun metal gray, with a greenish cast. The black racer lives in the eastern portion of the state, in habitats with rocky ledges, pastures, fields, and woodlands. The blue racer lives in similar habitats in the western portion of Ohio. In the area where their ranges overlap, there is interbreeding between the two species, however there is little to no difference in their appearance.