What kind of snake is this?

[ncyankee62]

So I have a visitor outside my house. They like to come up and sun, shed their skin against the vinyl siding, etc. He's not a pet, I'm not messing with him, and he's not messing with me. I'm just curious what kind of snake it is. A friend of mine on Facebook says he thinks it may be a black snake or a rat snake. Is the snake poisonous? Does he mostly eat rodents or what?

Believe it or not, the red thing to the side of him is a one foot ruler for scale.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2909/14019832015_173df156e9_s.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7196/14039837693_bafb49f7cd_s.jpg

[ncyankee62]

Phooey!! Those thumbnails are useless! Here's a Flickr set containing the photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjXF2jRH

[SSSSnakes]

The picture is so small it is hard to tell, but it does look like a Black Rat Snake. They are harmless.

[drumcrush]

Looks like it could be a black racer also, hard to tell with the small pics

[infernalis]

It is a black rat snake, getting ready to shed, it's "in the blue"

Black racers have a far more slender build.

both species are harmless and beneficial for rodent control.

[sharthun]

I agree, black rat snake. Awesome find!

[Teal]

Gorgeous little snake!

[sharthun]

Gorgeous little snake!

I agree, I grew up with black rat snakes all over and I have never seen one that 'black'.

[Kera]

Very gorgeous, glad you aren't messing with it. :)

[caitlyn=hall]

Anyone know what this one is. Found today in Colorado