Snake ID

[scott85]

Pretty sure I got a little bullsnake but I wanted to be sure. Thank you.

[MDT]

Looks like a juvenile racer. That is not a bull snake. Where are you located?

[SSSSnakes]

Looks like a juvenile racer. That is not a bull snake. Where are you located?

I agree, a juvenile racer.

[scott85]

Cool, thank you.
I live in northern Colorado. Usually we only see garter snakes in the yard and there's been more of those then ever this year. I did see a rattlesnake a mile down the road recently and someone saw a grey snake close to where I found the racer, is the adult male or female plain grey?

[MDT]

I think the adult form (male and female) can be anywhere from a slate grey to approaching black....at least the forms I see in Oklahoma (black racer and southern yellow bellied racer) are. But overall, I don't think there is sexual dimorphism in this species.

[scott85]

Thanks.
Neat snake, hopefully the population goes up around here.
This one was temperamental and defensive, never picked it up even, seemed to be OK with being captive though. Anyone keep these as pets?

[warehouse13fan]

I found one just like that in my kitchen the other day... there aren't any bull snakes around here so I'm saying racer.

[maroongrad]

A black racer? Temperamental? Defensive? NEVER :P I just got my first one about a month ago and the first real indication that she was going downhill was when she quit trying to bite us. We got her because it's not a boring snake; you can keep them as pets, but don't expect them to just sit there. They are always on the move, and many will pull their heads up and watch you as you walk by the enclosure.
I only know one person that tried to keep an adult wild-caught racer, which he described as "all sorts of weird and pissed-off." It would hit the side of the tank trying to bite people as they walked by, and he released it a week or so later when it became clear it was not going to settle down.
These are not shy, retiring snakes but they seem to be very, very smart and certainly very observant. Ours was watching the TV (or at least the motion) from across the room. When playing a youtube video of a juvenile racer, she crawled over to look at it and check out the screen briefly.
Fun pets but get used to being nipped. Not a pet for kids, but they seem well able to hold their own against a curious cat or dog.

"Thanks.
Neat snake, hopefully the population goes up around here.
This one was temperamental and defensive, never picked it up even, seemed to be OK with being captive though. Anyone keep these as pets?"