The Juvenile Black Racer looks nothing like the adult - it darkens with age.

DESCRIPTION: This snake is very common, but people don't know that it turns into a jet black snake as an adult.

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Juvenile Black Racer - When people come across a snake and are not prepared for it, they often panic because they do not know if it is venomous. General guidelines do exists for telling the venomous snakes from the non-venomous ones, but there are exceptions to every rule. First, be aware of the places you are will most likely encounter snakes. These include:

• When they travel across your yard to get from one place to another.
• When they look for mates during breeding season; fall and spring.
• As they cross the road.
• Near the edges of habitats like forest edges and bodies of water.

If you remember those four basic things, you may not be as caught off guard as you would otherwise. One more thing to remember is that almost everyone thinks getting bit happens all the time. In fact, there are an average of 7,000 snake bites a year in the United States and only half of those results in venom getting into the person’s system. Snake bites, while painful, are rarely fatal and account for only 5.5 deaths of the 1,900 animal related deaths a year, or 0.0008%

Venomous snakes normally have elliptical pupils that look like a cat’s, and a diamond or triangle shaped head. Non-venomous snakes have round pupils in the center of their eyes and their heads are not angled as much as venomous snakes. Venomous snakes also have a hole between the eye and nostrils, called a pit, for sensing warm blooded prey’s body heat.

Knowledge is your best weapon. Get a field guide and make yourself familiar with the snakes in your area, or any outdoor area you are visiting. Teach your children to spot them and not panic. Do not approach them; instead, just walk around them or let them slither away. Do not try to catch them.

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Running a wildlife removal business in the state of Florida gives me the chance to see all kinds of interesting snakes! Florida has about 45 species of snake, and I've seen 29 of them so far. I've always got my eye out for new species, and I love spotting rare snakes in Florida. I also have a thing for venomous snakes - they're not too common in FL, so I always enjoy the chance to see a poisonous serpent. I really like snakes, and I've never hurt or killed one. They're an important part of the ecosystem, and often persecuted. Still, if you don't want snakes in your house or on your property, and judging from the number of phone calls I receive regarding snake problems, you don't, then give me or a local snake expert in your area a call, and we can remove the snakes from your property for you. I use many snake control methods - from snake traps, to snake repellents, to habitat modification, but most of all, good old-fashioned capture and removal. If you want to learn more, please read my How To Get Rid of Snakes page.

AAAnimal Control is a privately owned wildlife removal and pest control business, located in Orlando Florida. I deal strictly with wild animals including snakes inside houses. I am not an extermination company, but a critter removal and control specialist. The above photos are some of the many that I've taken in the field over my years of work. Please email me if you have any questions about the above photographs, or any questions about wildlife problems or Florida snake removal issues.

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Wildlife Photographs by David     Email me with questions: david@aaanimalcontrol.com     Residential & Commercial     Licensed & Insured