Black Racer Coluber constrictor
Identification
This species has a long slender uniform black body with smooth scales and a white chin. It moves with exceptional speed and agility.
Location
Common in southern and eastern Ohio
Size
36 to 60 inches
Diet
It actively hunts by sight and consumes a wide range of prey including rodents insects and small reptiles.
Habitat
It prefers open habitats such as fields young forests and brushy edges in southern and eastern Ohio.
Activity Period
April to October
Behavior
It is diurnal and highly alert and often raises its head to survey surroundings. It relies on rapid movement rather than camouflage. It is most active during warm sunny days and retreats to sheltered sites during cool periods.
Lifecycle
Breeding occurs in spring and females lay eggs in early summer. Hatchlings emerge in late summer.
Population
The population is stable though sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation.
History
It has been documented in Ohio since early settlement and remains common in suitable habitats.
Human Interactions
It avoids humans but may vibrate its tail or strike defensively when cornered.
Facts
It is one of the fastest snakes in North America.
Sources
ODNR NatureServe academic field studies
Small mammals insects amphibians other snakes | Open woodlands fields edges | Southern and eastern Ohio