Always Look Before You Open The Door. Interesting Florida Wildlife.

[Virgo10]

Most likely this is a black racer but my knowledge of snakes is slim to none. It was right outside my back door!! My best guess is that it measured between 3 and 4 feet long. When I went out side to get a better photo, it hid in a bush and no amount of coaxing would make it come out.

They are quite beautiful and VERY fast. They are also nonvenomous.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

I just broke out in goosebumps seeing that pic. I would be so paranoid living in Florida, opening the door slowly and peering out and checking under my car for gators. I like lizards though.

 

[blowinbubbles]

OMG, this is too funny! Virgo, I feel for ya! The same thing happened to me several years ago! My oldest was in Kindergarten and he had just gotten off to school. I had decided to run up to the store for a Diet Mt. Dew. I opened the front door and there on my doormat was a big 'ol black snake! I 'bout peed my pants, screamed and slammed the door! My door had these mini-blinds inside them so I opened them and peeked out. Yep, there he was, just enjoying a nice cool morning on my doormat!

I called my husband, who told me to get the 12-gauge shotgun out of the top of the closet and shoot the snake. So I waited until he went on the grass, aimed and shot. LOL, I missed too. . . even with buckshot! the critter just slithered across the ditch and into the woods, unharmed.

I was so glad, because after doing some research I found that this was an Eastern Kingsnake, which *eats* rattlesnakes! He was a good one!

Seriously, though, I've lived in Florida my whole live and never saw a snake until this one. And that was after moving away from the coast, about 15 miles inland to the "country." Now I'm used to them, as long as they aren't poisonous!