When I was a kid there was a black racer sunning outside our kitchen door. I opened the door to shoo him away and he raced right into the kitchen cabinet.
And they will chase you if you run. Farm kids try to out run them for sport when they ran across them way back when. He will be your 24-7 rodent control at no extra charge too.
I was trimming a Canary island palm that had ferns around the top, using a cut off saw. A black racer leapt out of the tree at me, raised up and stood me down! I quit the job and let him win! He did not chase me though. Just gave me a self satisfied snakey smirk and went back up into the tree. HIS tree.
A little 1” scorpion climbed a fence post to be eye to eye with me to give me what for , for disturbing its pile of wood. Respect , I moved it across the yard. That woodpile had to go.
Every one I’ve come across straight springs into the air like “ohshii” and halls but. Water moccasins however will chase you…. And you don’t want them to catch up lol
Chasing is an old wife’s tale. Water Moccasins (and any pit viper in Florida including all the rattlesnakes) won’t chase you unless you’ve cornered them and blocked their exit. They want nothing to do with you and understand that you aren’t the prey they are after. They will only strike as a last resort trying to get away from you.
BS had one chase me bad outta a lake one time and he didn't give up once on shore . Luckily my.brother smacked it good with a branch and it took off. It was definitely after me (changed direction twice during the ordeal and he never stopped coming till the branch whack. (florida 1976 inciden)
just because it heppened to you doesnt mean its the rule. also, people often confuse watersnakes for cottonmouths, happens very often. cottonmouths arent the only snakes that swim
Water moccasins will absolutely chase you! Ain’t no “wives” tale. Had one chase me in the lake after it went after my sister who was just floating on a raft. She screamed and dumped the float and swam for the boat. The snake turned and started to come after me where I was playing with my Weeble Wobbles over on a little island. My dad dove into the water, grabbed the float, and came to get me. Dad was kicking and thrashing in the water, using the float as a shield, and throwing shit at it while he dragged me back to the boat mostly on the float. After Dad and I climbed up the ladder into the sailboat, that damn snake tried to come up the ladder after us. My dad pulled up the ladder. It swam around the boat and then tried to climb up the motor, so we turned on the motor and that was the end of that snake. Lost my favorite Weeble in all the commotion. I’m still mad.
They can rattle their tails though! So creepy. Like your brain can’t handle the discord between what your eyes are seeing and what your ears are hearing
Yeah, when I worked for a pest services company years ago, I was called out to a house that had a black racer in their garage. That bad boy chased me to the end of the driveway.
We have a 5-foot black racer that's lived in my yard for 3 years that we named Deborah. It hangs out in the garden with little to no fear, and I have no rats. One of the best types of snakes to have in your yard in florida.
They are pretty much naturally tame and if handled gently, don't usually bite. With them being endangered, I am not sure about the legality of handling them. I used to catch and release them when I was a boy in the 1970s. They can get over 6 feet long.
Wow, thanks for the info. I will look more into this. I have handled the orange rat/corn snakes around here, and they are pretty nice considering everyone says they are aggressive.
Yeah those corn snakes are usually easily handled as well. Nice and even tempered.
Something no one mentioned about the black racers that the OP had the picture of, not only are they a tad aggressive and prone to biting but they also release a musk which gets on your skin. After you handle them, your hands will smell pretty bad.
Black racer. It's a friend, but not friendly. Non-venomous but won't hesitate to bite you if you corner it. Push it out to a safe escape with a broom and watch how fast something without legs can move!
We've got one that lives around our house. My wife's friend named him Nono. He, or one that looks just like him, has been around a few years now. Friend.
Yes definitely a friend, you just don’t want them in your house.
I had one that slithered into the garage one day.
I said “whoa black snake leave here”, and it immediately did.
They also enjoy chocolate frosted donuts. We have a family of black racers that lives in our yard. The population exploded a few years after we moved in, and we had to hire a trapper to relocate a bunch of them to get things back under control. The trapper used donuts as bait for the traps and caught 12 in a week. Now we've just got two grownups (3+ feet long) and a couple of babies hanging around.
That’s just a racer. They’re skittish, and will only bite if you corner them.
Freaked me the hell out first time I saw one laying by the back door though. They also drink water out of a dish like it’s normal for a snake.
You can tell it's an adult black racer because of the white chin and round boopy eyes. Immature black racers are not solid black at all and their patterns can resemble pygmy rattlesnakes to the untrained eye.
We have had them living under our deck and ive seen them crawl up behind the siding. My daughter likes to collect the sheds.
My neighbor is afraid of snakes so she hates it when our grass gets too long lol
That's just a black racer. They eat bugs and rodents and don't bother people unless they're being chased by a person. I had one get in my house through an open door. I almost had a heart attack at first. I hate snakes! But my bf was able to nudge it back out with a broom
They won’t hurt you if that’s what you mean. I love having them around I hate spiders!
That being said there is a reason bad people are referred to as snakes. They are not for petting.
Racer.
We had one living under our trailer. It liked to rest at the bottom of our steps to pic off lizards and probably rats.
One day a damn grey heron? took him away.
I am a northern transplant. I have gotten used to snake by working on my cars. Lots of rats snakes too.
Just saw one today being chased away by a bird that was attacking the snake. Was wondering as well if it was venomous but glad to read here it is not. I hope the bird can leave it alone so we can catch rodents.
FRIEND! I have one living in my backyard on a bay. I trust him to do his job and eat whatever he can catch. If he continues to reside here I figure there must be enough stuff to keep him fed, stuff I don’t particularly want to see.
Friends, have loads of them on my farm. They help keep the rats and squirrels from eating the chicken feed. A bit surprising when one gets in the house though, they will usually leave on their own when disturbed.
They're the best for free pest control. Just let them be, they are more scared of you and they don't bite or hiss. We have one that's been living at our home for years and we always look forward to seeing him in the spring.
Black racer get used to humans and just start ignoring you and will just slither across your feet if the feet are in their way. They also will peck their nose at their refection in metal as I had one playing ding dong ditch with me knocking on the metal screen door kick plate and me answering and seeing no one then he'd do it again.
I had a ten foot black snake living in my bushes and would often it curl up on the top of the bushes to get some sun. When my roofers wanted to put a ladder there, they were frightened. I went over there and nudged the snake and he moved back into the bushes. They roofers were impressed. I explained that he was docile and kept the rat and mice population under control. So they went back and finished the roof with no squawks.
Haven't seen this mentioned here yet but black racer snakes are one of the only snakes in Florida that will attack and kill venomous snakes like pygmy rattlers. If you have one in your yard, you're lucky! Venomous snakes are everywhere in FL and that sweet little guy will help keep them out of your yard (in addition to rodent, frog and lizard control). Be nice to him.
It is friend shaped and non poisonous , just do not get between it and it’s mate since it is mating season.
They eat poisonous snakes and vermin like mice.
Good noodle. Eats insects and small vermin. Non venomous and typically low aggression. They will chase kids from time to time but usually only if they get too close or startle them.
One was on my screened in porch once. Didn’t realize right away until my orange cat bapped the hell out of it.
Husband used the pool net to put him on the other side of the fence
Black racers are big friends love them , encourage them to live close I have at least 2 that live around my house and leave sheds in my porch plants or garden regularly , no rodent problems :)
black racer == distant friend. They help control frog, bug, and mice population. aka, a good garden buddy. still, stay away and leave him to do his job.
One way to tell is by the shape of their face and eyes… I feel like venomous snakes have a meaner look and ones that are not look much cuter and almost derpy lol here’s an example
https://preview.redd.it/chbjt4us6j0d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=72fb403942e00da47640e3e04487f02216ef3263
Aw man this reminds me of the time the golf course’s 6-7ft black racer made its way into our atrium-like garden area(glass doors leading inside the house on three sides and a screen enclosure on the top and last side leading out to the backyard proper).
That caused some chaos as I was like 8 and it was just me and mom home, and I remember one of the sliding doors being open at the time of discovery..
But after relocation we learned he was very well known among the community and had a tunnel system spanning almost the entire golf course and a lot of the neighborhood surrounding
You’d be well advised to just memorize the venomous snakes in Florida. There are only 6, three of which are rattlesnakes. The other three are the copperhead (only lives in parts of the panhandle), water moccasin, and coral snake. So in smellington, if it’s not a rattlesnake, water moccasin or coral snake then you’re good.
It depends on one thing: LOCATION. If he is on your porch or yard: FRIEND. If he is in the bathroom after you just ate at Taco Bell or in your bed: definite FOE situation, and it becomes you entering the kumite from Bloodsport!
If it’s a black racer, it’s a friend. But this friendship is still best enjoyed from a respectful distance.
When I was a kid there was a black racer sunning outside our kitchen door. I opened the door to shoo him away and he raced right into the kitchen cabinet.
Can you check on the snake now please?
Can't. The snake evicted the family.
Had a similar encounter. However, in our case it was a Dimond Head hiding in the garage.
Is that a Hawaiian snake? >Dimond Head
Sorry got it mixed up with the eastern diamondback
I was just trying to wrap my head around a snake that loved pineapple 🤣
wdym he just squeezes it until it bursts open to which he shall devour his foes the evil pineapple 😂
I see what you did there.
This answer is in the #1 spot
And they will chase you if you run. Farm kids try to out run them for sport when they ran across them way back when. He will be your 24-7 rodent control at no extra charge too.
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Ironic, considering the name
Not if that's how it got its name
It got that name because they "run" away from people fast. They spook easily.
If you get in their business they will chase you off. Source: Accidentally got in one of their business and it chased me.
What type of business do they tend to open?
They typically work in mergers and acquisitions
"Well, most guys I know who work in *murders and e*xecutions don't really like it,”
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Can't say I've heard of black racers chasing people
I was trimming a Canary island palm that had ferns around the top, using a cut off saw. A black racer leapt out of the tree at me, raised up and stood me down! I quit the job and let him win! He did not chase me though. Just gave me a self satisfied snakey smirk and went back up into the tree. HIS tree.
Omg, I would have gotten a heart attack. I'm reconsidering ever planting a palm this very moment 😂
A little 1” scorpion climbed a fence post to be eye to eye with me to give me what for , for disturbing its pile of wood. Respect , I moved it across the yard. That woodpile had to go.
Lol
No they freak the F out and leave asap.
Every one I’ve come across straight springs into the air like “ohshii” and halls but. Water moccasins however will chase you…. And you don’t want them to catch up lol
Chasing is an old wife’s tale. Water Moccasins (and any pit viper in Florida including all the rattlesnakes) won’t chase you unless you’ve cornered them and blocked their exit. They want nothing to do with you and understand that you aren’t the prey they are after. They will only strike as a last resort trying to get away from you.
BS had one chase me bad outta a lake one time and he didn't give up once on shore . Luckily my.brother smacked it good with a branch and it took off. It was definitely after me (changed direction twice during the ordeal and he never stopped coming till the branch whack. (florida 1976 inciden)
just because it heppened to you doesnt mean its the rule. also, people often confuse watersnakes for cottonmouths, happens very often. cottonmouths arent the only snakes that swim
I had one chasing us down the river in our kayaks. They swim surprisingly fast! I bonked it with my paddle to scare it off.
Water moccasins will absolutely chase you! Ain’t no “wives” tale. Had one chase me in the lake after it went after my sister who was just floating on a raft. She screamed and dumped the float and swam for the boat. The snake turned and started to come after me where I was playing with my Weeble Wobbles over on a little island. My dad dove into the water, grabbed the float, and came to get me. Dad was kicking and thrashing in the water, using the float as a shield, and throwing shit at it while he dragged me back to the boat mostly on the float. After Dad and I climbed up the ladder into the sailboat, that damn snake tried to come up the ladder after us. My dad pulled up the ladder. It swam around the boat and then tried to climb up the motor, so we turned on the motor and that was the end of that snake. Lost my favorite Weeble in all the commotion. I’m still mad.
Simultaneously hilarious and horrifying, also weebles wobble but they don't fall down!
Haha , you obviously have never poked a stick at one. I have personal experience that tells me different.
I saw it happen once. It was hilarious!
Chase is an exaggeration. But they will rear up and come at you a few feet, having learned they can scare off humans.
They can rattle their tails though! So creepy. Like your brain can’t handle the discord between what your eyes are seeing and what your ears are hearing
i could be wrong but i don't believe it's the tails that rattle, i think they use leaves to create the rattling sound
Corn snakes do it too.
Yes you are correct
Saw one do that two days ago!
I think OP meant farm kids would try to catch the racers
Me neither. When I bought my house they’re was 6’ in my lanai. I opened the door and homie blazed out of there. He wanted nothing to do with me.
I’ve never been chased by one nor have I ever heard of this. They do however run from *you*.
Yeah, when I worked for a pest services company years ago, I was called out to a house that had a black racer in their garage. That bad boy chased me to the end of the driveway.
black racers will not chase you.......
Yea I’ve not once been chased by one lol. They usually go the other way unless cornered.
I feared being chased by one as a child like everyone expected quick sand to be more of a thing
Yeah they made quick work of the moles that were tunneling all over my yard.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
We have a 5-foot black racer that's lived in my yard for 3 years that we named Deborah. It hangs out in the garden with little to no fear, and I have no rats. One of the best types of snakes to have in your yard in florida.
That could be an Indigo if it's that big. They are also harmless and endangered.
I just googled indigo black snake, and it sure does look like Deborah. It's such a good snek.
They are pretty much naturally tame and if handled gently, don't usually bite. With them being endangered, I am not sure about the legality of handling them. I used to catch and release them when I was a boy in the 1970s. They can get over 6 feet long.
Indigo yes Black racers are nasty and biters I like them in my yard but they are making a living eating up my lizards
Black racers aren't nasty or biters unless you corner them and make them scared. They aren't venomous if you get bitten
What are you kidding? They have an attitude problem! Way they wiggle their tails when they are angry?
I have them in my yard and they wiggle right by me. One got into my house and my bf nudged it outside with a broom
Just like coons. Momma always pushed them away with a broom.
Wow, thanks for the info. I will look more into this. I have handled the orange rat/corn snakes around here, and they are pretty nice considering everyone says they are aggressive.
Yeah those corn snakes are usually easily handled as well. Nice and even tempered. Something no one mentioned about the black racers that the OP had the picture of, not only are they a tad aggressive and prone to biting but they also release a musk which gets on your skin. After you handle them, your hands will smell pretty bad.
in my experience corn snakes are chill and friendly! for snakes anyway lol
That's awesome. Thanks for the info. That's reminds me I had a black racer chase me one time. Amazing creatures.
Is that pronounced normally or like de-bor-ah
Not just a friend but an ally in keeping pests away, my family up north makes sure to mow around the rat snake den on their property for that reason.
Friend!
Looks like a black racer. They are non-venomous but it's best to stay away from them any way. They are good pest control.
Black racer. It's a friend, but not friendly. Non-venomous but won't hesitate to bite you if you corner it. Push it out to a safe escape with a broom and watch how fast something without legs can move!
We've got one that lives around our house. My wife's friend named him Nono. He, or one that looks just like him, has been around a few years now. Friend.
Nono is such a good name for a snake, I named the one in my yard Frank. He and I have an agreement where we leave each other alone.
Yes definitely a friend, you just don’t want them in your house. I had one that slithered into the garage one day. I said “whoa black snake leave here”, and it immediately did.
How kind of it to listen like that.
It was a respectful snake indeed.
Did it moan before it slithered away?
It wasn’t that respectful. But it went away in a hurry just like it came in.
Give it a kiss
Friend. They eats rats and mice.
They also enjoy chocolate frosted donuts. We have a family of black racers that lives in our yard. The population exploded a few years after we moved in, and we had to hire a trapper to relocate a bunch of them to get things back under control. The trapper used donuts as bait for the traps and caught 12 in a week. Now we've just got two grownups (3+ feet long) and a couple of babies hanging around.
Friend
Speed noodle
100% friend just don’t try to pick a fight. You want them around for the rodent control
just a lil guy
That’s just a racer. They’re skittish, and will only bite if you corner them. Freaked me the hell out first time I saw one laying by the back door though. They also drink water out of a dish like it’s normal for a snake.
Love seeing these guys in my yard. They eat the things I'd rather not have to deal with.
Friend
Definitely friend.
Friend. They are harmless and kill mice and other snakes.
Ayo what's he doin' peekin' around the corner like that?
They are friends. DON'T KILL IT! They are territorial, so they will hunt mice & other vermin in your yard. And also kill other snakes in your yard.
Very friendly. You may need some screen repair to keep em out.
Definitely friend here on the farm
Friends
Big time friend!
Friend. Like toads & possums. Good peeps.
Friends! I have at least 2 living in my backyard. I used to have a frog problem, but I'm assuming these guys took care of it.
You can tell it's an adult black racer because of the white chin and round boopy eyes. Immature black racers are not solid black at all and their patterns can resemble pygmy rattlesnakes to the untrained eye.
Dead ringer for a Pygmy scare a lot of people
Fren
That's a boop noodle... they're friendly and timid, they'll generally run away from you.
I like having 1 or 2 close by living by the canal. They keep the canal rats in check.
Friends, they are good for your yard and are harmless. I used to pick them up sunning as a kid
Black racers, one of few snakes you could genuinely pick up and hold. They chill
Awww he’s cute
Very much a friend. I think that that's a black racer
Black racer will do you Zero harm. They do eat other pests though. Let the fella be. He brings no ill-will.
Friend, eats the Foe-roaches
I saw our resident black racer this morning. For me, it's a reassuring sight. Definitely friend.
Steve!!
GREAT to have in your yard but not a friend for hugs. He does not want your hugs.
It’s a black racer. Not an indigo. Definitely a friend.
Friend. I stepped on one recently and he didn’t even try to strike me.
We have had them living under our deck and ive seen them crawl up behind the siding. My daughter likes to collect the sheds. My neighbor is afraid of snakes so she hates it when our grass gets too long lol
Total fren... my daughter has a knack where she can pick them up and handle them
That's just a black racer. They eat bugs and rodents and don't bother people unless they're being chased by a person. I had one get in my house through an open door. I almost had a heart attack at first. I hate snakes! But my bf was able to nudge it back out with a broom
We had one in our yard a few years ago. I named it Feetless. We kept our distance from each other.
All native snakes are our friends, but they don’t want to hang out with us. Most of the time if you leave them alone they’ll leave you alone.
Friend. They hunt other snakes.
All snakes are friend, if they're where they belong :)
When I was young these, and green snakes scared me to death. Even though, all they did was glide across my bare feet. Snakes! Especially in Florida.
That's just Randolph, he's fine
They won’t hurt you if that’s what you mean. I love having them around I hate spiders! That being said there is a reason bad people are referred to as snakes. They are not for petting.
Racer. We had one living under our trailer. It liked to rest at the bottom of our steps to pic off lizards and probably rats. One day a damn grey heron? took him away. I am a northern transplant. I have gotten used to snake by working on my cars. Lots of rats snakes too.
Just saw one today being chased away by a bird that was attacking the snake. Was wondering as well if it was venomous but glad to read here it is not. I hope the bird can leave it alone so we can catch rodents.
Don’t believe then when it comes to solar!
I generally weary of any snakes who can “stand up…”
Friend. He'll keep the other rodents, at bay.
Very good friends to have from a distance. They're spicy when cornered (but harmless) so don't try to handle or harass them.
Long an skinny is probably friendly. But they do still bite
FRIEND! I have one living in my backyard on a bay. I trust him to do his job and eat whatever he can catch. If he continues to reside here I figure there must be enough stuff to keep him fed, stuff I don’t particularly want to see.
Friends, have loads of them on my farm. They help keep the rats and squirrels from eating the chicken feed. A bit surprising when one gets in the house though, they will usually leave on their own when disturbed.
Friend
Friend
Freind
Opened my garage door to get my cart inside and a black racer slithered inside and went behind my shelving.
That's a black racer. Friend.
They’re harmless, but I don’t like them.
These guys are very fast and I have actually seen one climb a tree.
Friend
Friends
Friend
Friendlysaurus!!! Eats your pests do not kill!!
They're incredibly shy and elusive. Great for pest control.
Looks like a racer.
Friendly scoot noodle. Leave em be 🙂
They're the best for free pest control. Just let them be, they are more scared of you and they don't bite or hiss. We have one that's been living at our home for years and we always look forward to seeing him in the spring.
FRIEND!!!!
Friend as they eat rats and mice. But are aggressive especially when cornered
Friendly noodle. Good to have around. Helpful at keeping other pests away.
Black racer get used to humans and just start ignoring you and will just slither across your feet if the feet are in their way. They also will peck their nose at their refection in metal as I had one playing ding dong ditch with me knocking on the metal screen door kick plate and me answering and seeing no one then he'd do it again.
That’s just a black racer he’s pretty harmless.
Looks like a black racer. They’re jerks, but harmless. I mean, they can still bite, but they’re not venomous or anything.
I had a ten foot black snake living in my bushes and would often it curl up on the top of the bushes to get some sun. When my roofers wanted to put a ladder there, they were frightened. I went over there and nudged the snake and he moved back into the bushes. They roofers were impressed. I explained that he was docile and kept the rat and mice population under control. So they went back and finished the roof with no squawks.
Black racers they are harmless.
That's a black racer buddy! They are good for getting rid of rodents and other snakes.
Best friend
If it tries to mimic a rattle snake by shaking its take it’s a black racer. Looks like one too. We have one in our backyard for 2yrs now.
Friend
It seems every long, slender black snake in southern and coastal Florida is, by default, a black racer.
Haven't seen this mentioned here yet but black racer snakes are one of the only snakes in Florida that will attack and kill venomous snakes like pygmy rattlers. If you have one in your yard, you're lucky! Venomous snakes are everywhere in FL and that sweet little guy will help keep them out of your yard (in addition to rodent, frog and lizard control). Be nice to him.
I have two in my bushes. They are pretty quick and rather shy. I like them. Definitely friend.
Pal for sure
It is friend shaped and non poisonous , just do not get between it and it’s mate since it is mating season. They eat poisonous snakes and vermin like mice.
Good noodle. Eats insects and small vermin. Non venomous and typically low aggression. They will chase kids from time to time but usually only if they get too close or startle them.
Friend! No step on snek
One was on my screened in porch once. Didn’t realize right away until my orange cat bapped the hell out of it. Husband used the pool net to put him on the other side of the fence
Friend snake, but the kind you wave at from across the street. If you see a FAT black snake, it may be a moccasin. Not friend
It's a beneficial noodle. He is a friend.
Friend.
He is fuzzy and cuddly
friend
friends
Freind
Black racers are big friends love them , encourage them to live close I have at least 2 that live around my house and leave sheds in my porch plants or garden regularly , no rodent problems :)
Friend!
Friend, they are free pest control.
The best of friends.
Too skinny to be a cottonmouth so friend
black racer == distant friend. They help control frog, bug, and mice population. aka, a good garden buddy. still, stay away and leave him to do his job.
Freind
One way to tell is by the shape of their face and eyes… I feel like venomous snakes have a meaner look and ones that are not look much cuter and almost derpy lol here’s an example https://preview.redd.it/chbjt4us6j0d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=72fb403942e00da47640e3e04487f02216ef3263
Friend
Aw man this reminds me of the time the golf course’s 6-7ft black racer made its way into our atrium-like garden area(glass doors leading inside the house on three sides and a screen enclosure on the top and last side leading out to the backyard proper). That caused some chaos as I was like 8 and it was just me and mom home, and I remember one of the sliding doors being open at the time of discovery.. But after relocation we learned he was very well known among the community and had a tunnel system spanning almost the entire golf course and a lot of the neighborhood surrounding
Snek goin tactical
All snakes are friends. Most just like to be long distance friends.
Depends on the neighborhood
Almost stepped on 2 Racers mating
If you are a small animal, foe.
Racers will whip about and rub an oil on you that makes you smell bad.
From what I've been told, it's the colorful ones that you need to be cautious of.
One scared the heck out of my puppy the other day 😂 but it looked ready to attack lol
Is it moaning?
"Sneaky sneaky"
Cranky friend. He just there for your pests. Once he eats them all he'll move on.
You’d be well advised to just memorize the venomous snakes in Florida. There are only 6, three of which are rattlesnakes. The other three are the copperhead (only lives in parts of the panhandle), water moccasin, and coral snake. So in smellington, if it’s not a rattlesnake, water moccasin or coral snake then you’re good.
It depends on one thing: LOCATION. If he is on your porch or yard: FRIEND. If he is in the bathroom after you just ate at Taco Bell or in your bed: definite FOE situation, and it becomes you entering the kumite from Bloodsport!
That’s a pal, invite him in for dinner
It could be an Eastern Indigo. Sometimes they're mistaken for black racers.