That looks like a black racer to me - they are white underneath if you have the ***** to flip him/her over. I used to get one in my courtyard villa grass yard several times a year, so I fabricated a "snake guard" that covers the bottom of my gate, and haven't had one since (at least not that I've seen). I also removed every bush and in-ground plant from the yard, so they have nowhere to hide. I recently walked into my garage to get a tool, and there was a four foot long black snake in the garage on the wrong side of the sliding screens, looking at me with a snakey glare. Scared the bejesus out of me. It was under a shelf with its head near the screen, probably wondering how it got in there and simply wanted to get out. I stood behind it (way behind it) with a broom in my hands, while my lovely wife carefully slid the screen door open. I shooed it out with the broom and it was gone in a flash. I'm really careful now about making sure the screens are always completely closed. Harmless or not, they still make my heart pound.
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