I went out again to help with a friend’s research (the same friend as before) and we found this Black Racer (Coluber constrictor) sunning itself on a rocky outcropping. It was a beautiful old snake about 4.5 feet in length! After a bit of protestation while it was on the ground, it was mellow as can be in-hand (hence the lax handling in the photo; it’s much more secure to handle a wild-caught snake closer to the head so he doesn’t have quite so much leeway to chew on you). That day we were scouting for potential frog ponds, and though we struck out, any day finding a big snake is a good day.
Colin Donihue 