Harmless · North Carolina
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
Fast, alert black snake with a slimmer build than ratsnakes.
At a glance
Size
Usually 36-60 inches.
North Carolina range
Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain
Habitat
fields, forest edges, yards
Diet
Insects, frogs, lizards, snakes, birds, eggs, and small mammals.
Pattern
solid
Venomous
No
How to identify it
Long, slender, fast-moving snake; adults are solid black with a pale chin, while juveniles are gray with dark blotches.
Where to look in North Carolina
Common statewide.
Fields, woodland edges, thickets, roadsides, farms, and suburban yards.
Regional maps show broad physiographic provinces, not county-level records.
Photo guide
Use the gallery to check pattern, body shape, and context—not just overall color.
