One year I had two snakes playing tag on my lawn, back and forth for at least 20 minutes. I had never thought of them "playing" before. Maybe it was a mating game. After a while they disappeared into the bushes. So I know what you are taking about. It was very interesting to see, and really changed how I thought about snakes.

Great photos! What an interesting story. Black racers? Maybe it is mating season... ;)

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing...it must be part of their mating dance. This behavior continued through the earlier part of this week. Early Monday morning, I saw them chasing each other through the yard again...one chases the other, then they would switch. I couldn't tell you which is male or female...no clue.

My only concern is if they have zero fear of me, they must have zero fear of other humans -- some who may not be as 'tolerant' to wild life as I am.

These snakes -- I've seen a total of 3 in my yard -- literally just hang with me in the yard. I'll be weeding or planting something while the snake scoots around the yard a few feet away doing it's snake things. Totally fearless of me -- could care less.

I can only hope for the best for them, of course.

Thanks for the pictures and narrative - I really enjoyed your story.

I agree with the "mating" dance thoughts. I had two on the pool deck engaging in the same activity and they were not pleased when I instructed them to "get a room"!! The black snakes here are also accustomed to me being out and about in the yard, to the point if I'm raking leaves, they check out each pile as I create it to see if there are any yummies for them. DH is waiting for the day they sit up and beg for a treat.

I had a wonderful opportunity today to do some snake education. We are getting new neighbors at the long neglected house next door and they are starting to clear the overgrowth. I told him that the black snakes and red snakes were good guys, but if he saw a striped one, look out! I also told him we have not seen any poisonous species here thus far. I hope he leaves our vermin eaters alive and well.

Beautiful photos, Saintpfla! I just love black racers and those two are so shiny and pretty! The one in particular, looks like he may have molted recently, to have such a fresh, shiny skin.

It's a bit late in the season for mating behavior, but who knows? Maybe they haven't got access to a calendar!

Just for additionall info, we have no poisonous "striped" snakes in Florida. Stripes (in snake parlance) run vertically, the length of the snake's body, as with yellow rat snakes and garter snakes. If the "stripes" go around the body, or horizontally, the snake is said to be banded. Coral snakes, for instance, are not considered striped, but banded. Just a tidbit that you might find interesting.

Marcia