That black snake, while indeed black, is the Eastern Kingsnake,
Lampropeltis getula getula.. The apex predator among the snakes, they are well know for their ability to sustain bites from rattlesnakes and copperheads while making a meal out of them, hence the name Kingsnake.
Fun fact, the genus name Lampropeltis means "shiny shield" as Stercutus' excellent photo illustrates, their scales are round and tightly packed together like a bunch of tiny Spartan shields. The black rat snake has more elliptical scales, and although the rat snake appears to have a white pattern like the king snake, that is actually his while skin showing between the scales.
The eastern king snake actually has white or yellowish scales to make his chain pattern. Other ways to tell the difference is that the black rat has a more elongated head compared to the rounder king snake, and the rat snake's body has higher sides, its cross section is like a loaf of bread, while the king snake is round like a garden hose.
Just to round out North America's most notable ebony colored serpents, round like a hose, flat black in color, likes to stick his head up in high grass like a periscope and has very large eyes, that is the black racer.
The state reptile of Ohio, he is called "the farmer's friend" for his voracious appetite for mice. Don't pick them up. Non-venomous but squirm like hell and quick to bite.
If you are foolish like me and enjoy picking up wild snakes, here are some quick tips, for rat snakes (including yellow, trans-pecos and corn snakes) and king snakes (including milk snakes, scarlet kings and speckled king snakes)
Avoid the head, that's a death move to snakes and they will defend themselves. If I see them slithering around, I'll try and get two hands on them as quickly as possible, about 1/3 down from the head and the second had on the last third of the body with a pretty gentle grip supporting the weight of the specimen. As they try to move, just shift your hands like a tread mill so you keep holding him in the same relative position.
Don't try and restrict his movement.
Keep the snakes head pointed away from your face and have any spectators stand to the side. Their tiny reptilian brain can recognize eyes and a mouth and our big maws look pretty threatening. You don't want the snake thinking he's the main course.
Rat snakes calm down very quickly, at Scout camp, I've gotten hold of rat snakes on the lower third of their body and slowly and gently pulled them out of their holes. Remembering to support their weight, keeping my face out of their line of sight and giving them their lead, they calm down in a few minutes. I never pass the snake around to the Scouts but I do let them stand to one side and touch or stroke the tail portion. Remember to always stroke in the direction of the tail.
Happy herping (not herpes)
