Where are you?

I think it's a black rat snake, but it's been years since I've gotten a good look at one.

Northern VA

im pretty sure.. id wet myself.. if i ran across that.. where i didnt expect it ...

i suppose that is TMI ... and not helpful ... lol

ken

Looks like a black rat snake to me as well.... one of the good guys. Please don't kill it. It also eats house and garden mice if that convinces you the more.

How beautiful and mysterious.

Oh, what a beautiful snake. I'm sure he was terrified of you. Certainly a harmless and beneficial snake who will be a good neighbor.

What a beauty! I hope you can let him live!

It is Blue Racer / Black snake they are constrictors and non-poisonous. Almost 95 % positive .

Jin

It is beautiful isn't it. Definitely a keeper but I am sure it will move away where they is food.
So what are your plans ?
jin

It left the shed and went under the forsythia. I will be gardening in a different spot for a (long) while

We don't have them in CA -- but my neighbor and I were just saying we would both very much like to have a gopher snake.

carol, look closely at your snake in the pic. About mid way is a swollen spot, it appears that it has recently dined.

I do see the bulge!

Its probably just eating mice or rats. We get a lot of snakes here. Some are very large but most aren't poisonous.

One time our Lab cornered a massive Timber Rattlesnake near our chicken coop. About scared me to death! I'm still shocked she (or I) didnt get bit. Luckily, they aren't aggressive snakes but it was very unhappy and coiled up rattling like it would strike any moment. I really watch where I'm going these days, watching for snakes, when I'm outdoors.

I have never encountered a snake coming after me. They feel the vibration of humans walking on the ground and skedaddle . While I've been bitten by three dogs and two cats during my life, I've never had a wild animal attack or bite me.

My only concern would be my dogs getting involved but I simply take them inside the house for a while and the snake then goes on its way.

A garter snake in May in that same area. I suspect he caught the frog because I didn't hear it after that.

Nice garter snake shot carol. We have lots of cottonmouths here, and they're usually in a bad mood. I've sometimes had them crawl toward me with gaping mouth and bad intent from several feet away. Since I spend lots of time in the woods and around water, I usually wear snake protectors when chasing wildflowers.

Yes! Black rat snake. Great snake to have around! These are actually very friendly snakes, and rather curious in my experience.

Here‘s one of my baby garters; this one is much bigger now (or has a bigger brother) but I see him so often in the garden that I’m thinking of naming him.

I wish we had some nice large snakes to control the roof rats, but unfortunately the rat to snake ratio is extremely poor. It would be nice if one could put in an order for them, pointing to a picture of a gopher snake and saying "I'll have half a dozen of those please".

Perma, your is so cute colour. I don't know why but Jade it Emerald comes to my mind....lol
My baby snake is gone which my daughter release it in my rose bed.
jin

Yes, for some reason my garters are quite green. Must be all the green frogs & lizards! I think Houzz cropped the photo wired; I can’t see his head. But he has nice big bright eyes, not those mean looking slanted ones the venomous snakes have.

Ingrid, I’ll grab a few and box them up for you. They’d be fine with Two-day Mail, if I packed enough bugs & lizards in there with them, don’t you think? (JK) :-)

"It is Blue Racer / Black snake"

These are 2 different snakes - racer vs black rat snake

Thanks, arbordave! I always went by the sheen—-shiny black, rat snake, matte black to blue-gray, racer. We have lots of both here in FL. Both great snakes to have around. :-)

If it's chin is white then it's a black racer. They aren't poisonous but will bite when provoked and I hear the bite is fairly a painful one. We see them and their shed skins often in our yard. I always wish them happy hunting!

Looks similar to one on my lot that makes occasional appearances -- here sunning on a dawn redwood branch: