Buttermilk Racer (20 May 2007) Conroe, Texas

(Coluber constrictor anthicus) Beneficial. Non-poisonous; not aggressive; rarely bites even if handled roughly; this species of snake preys on mice and rats and is, therefore, a very good snake to have around.

Photos and Report Courtesy of Al P.; text by Jerry Cates\

Al P. Wrote:

Good Morning:---I live in Conroe, TX and this snake crawled into my garage.  Unfortunately, I do not know snakes too well and my kids were in the garage with me.  I tried trapping the head with a golf putter to get a better look at it, but it crawled behind a cabinet and I could not see it too well. 

In flushing it out with a Meter stick, I hit it too hard and I severed its head.  I threw the head away, but kept the body per my son’s request.  I am guessing this is a Black racer, but I am not sure.  I tried using the Identification Key, but you know better than I do.  Thank you for your help and I hope the pictures give you some good references.  It is roughly 29 inches long, headless.  I look forward to your answer. 

I let most of the snakes go because I know they benefit us, but being that this one is black and we have a creek from the golf course 20 yards away, I did not want to take any chances.  I am trying to change my family handed-down philosophy about snakes, “A dead snakes is a good snake!”  Thanks again! Best Regards---Al P.

My Reply:

Al--This is a buttermilk racer (Coluber constrictor anthicus). No other snake in Texas has these randomly-placed hodgepodge markings on its body, though the species is highly variable in terms of background color and the color of the paler, randomly-placed scales.

It is a nervous snake, tends to flee as yours did when approached, and is reputed to be one of our fastest snakes. It tends to be less combative than other species of racer when picked up, rarely biting in self-defense unless handled roughly. Even when it does bite, the bite is not generally of any consequence, as it is not poisonous.  

Most of the inquiries I get about buttermilk racers come from The Woodlands, Conroe, Lexington, and Sheppard.    The buttermilk racer has been known to grow to as much as 71 inches, but normal adults are from 30-60 inches long. It feeds on mice, rats, lizards, frogs, and birds.   Hope that helps--Jerry

Some Added Notes:

The buttermilk racer is the only snake in Texas that exhibits the random splattering of small pale scales shown here.  In some specimens the background color is very light, the pale scales are colored different colors from one scale to the next, and/or the pale scales are more numerous.  In this one, the pale scales are about the same color everywhere on the body, and are not profuse.

The butternilk racer's habitat is mostly confined to the pine and hardwood forests of East Texas and Louisiana, but it has been observed throughout much of the lowland United States, as far north as southern Canada.  It is one of our fastest snakes, as anyone who has witnessed one darting through the grass will testify. 

 This snake eats mice, rats, lizards, frogs, and birds.

Many thanks to Al P. for this excellent photo.

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