Rich, what kind of snake is this?

[Z06 Rocket]

Found this one inside my home today. I took him outside and let him go but was wondering if you could tell me what kind of snake it is? I see he has a non-viper head but his markings are similiar to what I think a pigmy rattler colors would be. I was thinking he may be colored that way as a passive defense system. He was only about 7-8" long and had a tail without any rattle.

Thanks!!

 

[Rich Z]

It's either a baby black racer or a baby coachwhip. They look awfully similar as babies. Nonvenomous, regardless.

This is the time of year when all the baby reptiles will be hatching out of eggs and the livebearers giving birth.

 

[Z06 Rocket]

It's either a baby black racer or a baby coachwhip. They look awfully similar as babies. Nonvenomous, regardless.

This is the time of year when all the baby reptiles will be hatching out of eggs and the livebearers giving birth.

Thanks, I see alot of these around here as mature adult snakes but this is the first one I've seen colored like this as a juvenile snake. I have a lot of lizards so thats probably why I get alot of these snakes wanting to eat the lizards.

 

[Rich Z]

Thanks, I see alot of these around here as mature adult snakes but this is the first one I've seen colored like this as a juvenile snake. I have a lot of lizards so thats probably why I get alot of these snakes wanting to eat the lizards.

Yeah, that's something a lot of people don't seem to realize. If there are a lot of snakes around your place, then that means that there is a lot of food for them to be eating that attracts them. In the case of most snakes, that means mice and rats are prevalent.

Black racers and coachwhips will eat just about anything that is an animal that they can overpower and swallow. Even been known to eat baby gopher tortoises.