The Buttermilk Racer is fairly common throughout Harris County. Babies are light tan with medium brown saddle-shaped spots running down the back. In contrast, adults are usually grayish-black in background color, with off white, 'buttermilk' colored spots all over the back. The amount of white spots in adults is highly variable, however, making some specimens look gray with white spots and others look white with gray spots. Couple this with the fact that their skin has an irridescent blueish sheen to it in the sun, and you can see how this snake is often called in error a 'Blue Racer.' There is no Texas snake with the common name of Blue Racer, though, so remember those buttermilk colored spots when you're trying to think of this snake's common name!

The name 'racer' also implies great speed, and this is definitely the case...at least as far as our local snakes go. Top speed for this speedy five foot long serpent is still less than ten miles per hour, though, so they pose little danger to humans. Quite the opposite, they are most likely to be heading the other direction when you see them!