A Snake Preview In New Port Richey- FL- The Black Racer Visit

Toni, I've never been fond of snakes so the pictures will do. However, I'm glad you posted the pictures. He certainly is an interesting creature. Thanks for sharing.

Hi Toni, catchy title with great photos and story. You have a mini zoo at your back yard. Congratulations - FEATURED post.

Like you, I enjoy seeing critters in their environment.  I don't know what's to be afraid of.  They are 1/100th our size, they are pretty defenseless, they aren't confrontational just because they are in the grass in the backyard -- that's where they live.  I don't understand the notion of why everything in nature has to be "icky" or "ewwwww" 

Toni,

We have seen these around here, the young one with red courtesy of our intrepid red hunter.  You are so right, all things have a reason to be.  A

I am not a fan of snakes period but I respect them and their privacy.  I know they help control rodents but I prefer the snakes stay outside with the rodents! Oh, btw, nice pictures!

I do a lot of hiking so I am always on the lookout for creatures to avoid stumbling into. This time of year we start seeing more rattlesnakes, so you always have to be looking and listening and be ready to give them a wide berth when you come across them. Respect nature and you can (usually) stay out of trouble. 

My team got a new listing, and I went to the vacant house to get some more photos.  When I went to the lockbox I was greeted by a snake!  

Then, next to the water pipe, another snake!  Walking to the doorway, I was confronted by four (4) more snakes!

They were all rubber - I suspect the neighbor's kid placed them there and watches when people go to the door.

Even a rubber snake is enough to give people pause.  Three months ago I found the remains of a full-grown rattlesnake on the back patio of a home.  It was expired and dried out a good month or more - still - jeepers!

I don't think we have Black Racers here.  I do know we have a breed of Racer that has vivid yellow stripes running the length of their body.  They are a very swift snake.

Just the other day, my neighbor told me they had found a snake in their KITCHEN! I have seen snakes around our neighborhood over the years but never in a house.

I don't know who was more bothered today, the black racer or me especially when I was cutting a vacant house with about 3 feet of backyard on my new 21 HP snapper rider.

He got lucky as I missed him but maybe thats why he's called racer.

Yikes, that thing is long.  I'm rather happy to report that the closest animal to that black racer we have out here are lizards.  Something about their smallness and little legs make them much cuter.  I've seen 2-3 snakes in CA in 63 years, but one was a rattler with rabbit feet sticking out of his unhinged mouth.

Toni - The second photo is pretty cool though I don't think I'd want to be that close to it.

We've got a couple of these guys that hang out by our office.  Occasionally they make their way into the office.  Followed by loud screaming from every one scared of snakes.

Toni, as a kid I used to catch snakes and keep as pets until some higher authority in the house decided it was time to let them go...I really haven't seen that many around here...corn snakes, king snakes and a black snake or two...although we do have cotton mouths.