Jacksonville, FL

We think this snake is a Southern Black Racer. He seems to enjoy the shrubbery and the Sagos that ring our yard.

I’ve stepped on him or his kin as I pull weeds in my small backyard garden. I’ve admired him as he suns in the Sago branches, or in the other shrubs along the front of our house. We think he’s a Southern Black Racer, a common species in these parts.

I’ve thanked him silently for helping to keep our lizard and rodent population under control, and hopefully, for helping keep other snakes that aren’t as friendly under control as well.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Web site refers to the Black Racer as a “slithering garbage pail.”

My husband shot this photo Saturday morning. Until I uploaded it to the computer, I couldn’t appreciate the length of this snake. What we have appreciated many times is his curious spirit—the way he raises his head, probably looking for prey. He shouldn’t run out of food anytime soon because we have many species like lizards and frogs in abundance. I’ve also seen a few mice in the area around the pool house.

He’s startled me at times. One afternoon as I returned with groceries, I came within inches of him. He was sunning on the walkway in front of our door. I set the bags down and possibly from the ground vibrations, he took off. Another time, he decided to get an up-close look at my daughters as they sunned and swam near the pool. Probably because of their ear-piercing screams and hysterics, he took off.

I wrote about that event; this story was the beginning of my relationship writing for the local section of the Florida Times-Union.

Of course, I don’t know if he’s a beautiful boy or girl, but I do know this snake has done good things for us. He isn’t very aggressive. Otherwise, the day I stepped on him he’d have got a good bite out of my foot.

Because of the racer and other wildlife like backyard birds, possums, and the occasional turtle, we leave edge around the backyard fence and we try not to over-prune the large bushes.

Development is taking every available green space in our community right now. It’s as though every patch and every tree has a bulls-eye painted on it. I figure providing a substitute home is the least we can do for wildlife. (text by Kay B. Day; photo by Randy Day)

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