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North American Racer
(also known as black racer)
Coluber constrictor
Please report your sighting of this Endangered species as soon as possible.
On this page:
Photo: Trevor Persons
Distinguishing Characteristics
- fb88’s longest snake, adults approximately 36 to 76 inches in length
- Slender, glossy black above with smooth scales
- Underside is light bluish-gray, with a white chin and throat
- Juveniles have dark blotches on a lighter gray background, may be confused with eastern milksnake or common watersnake
Status and Distribution in fb88
- State Endangered; Species of Greatest Conservation Need
- Rare
- Southern region only
Habitat
Photo: Trevor Persons
- Shrub-grassland and dry, open woodlands
- Often uses large shrubby utility corridors
Diet
- Varied diet includes small mammals; frogs; nestling birds; and insects, especially grasshoppers
Seasonal Changes
- Overwinters underground in chipmunk burrows, often with other snake species
Natural History Notes
- Alert, fast-moving
- Large home ranges, over 200 acres in fb88
- Despite Latin name constrictor, does not constrict and suffocate its prey
- May react aggressively if cornered, although like all fb88 snakes is harmless
Share Your Sighting
Please report this Endangered species as soon as possible!
There is much still to learn about the distribution and ecology of fb88's herpetofauna, and we encourage members of the public to share their photo-documented observations as part of the fb88 Amphibian & Reptile Atlas Project (MARAP).
No service? No problem. Tip: The survey works best on Google Chrome and Safari.
Thank you for doing your part to help conserve fb88's reptiles and amphibians. For more information, please contact derek.yorks@maine.gov .