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Blue racer
Blue racer












Moreover, even in Wisconsin, it has been listed as a species of special concern.The Blue Racer Snake is one of 11 North American racer subspecies. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada has not only listed it as an endangered species, but it is also being protected under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 of the Ontario government. While the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not yet assessed the blue racer with respect to its conservation status, it should be noted that the species is endangered in Canada.

  • Dogs and cats are known to feed on juvenile blue racers whereas the eggs and hatchlings form food of numerous, big and small, birds and animals.
  • The most common predators of adult blue racers include large birds of prey like hawk, owls, etc., and carnivores animals like foxes, raccoons, etc.
  • On the other hand, an adult feeds on bigger animals such as rodents, other snakes, and even songbirds.
  • The typical diet of a juvenile blue racer comprises crickets, grasshoppers, and other small insects.
  • It is diurnal in nature, which means that it is active during the day and sleeps during the night.
  • The blue racer is known to forage for its food.
  • The eggs hatch between mid-August and late-September, and the hatchlings are about eight to thirteen inches in length.
  • The female lays eggs around late-June, in seemingly secure microhabitats such as rotting logs, under large rocks, and even in decaying organic mounds.
  • Reproduction in blue racers happens annually, with a single clutch size varying between five to twenty eight eggs.
  • A female blue racer reaches its sexual maturity at the age of two to three years, and a male at the age of eleven months to two years.
  • One can often notice two male blue racers in combat over a territory or a female blue racer.
  • During this time, the snake becomes not only aggressive, but also territorial.
  • In general, the mating season of blue racers lies between the months of April and May.
  • However, it should be noted that although the blue racer’s bite may be extremely painful, it is a non-venomous snake and is not poisonous.

    blue racer

    Moreover, if it is disturbed to the level of annoyance, it may turn very hostile and even bite.

    blue racer

    When threatened, a blue racer will quickly crawl into nearby bushes or small trees to protect itself.While crawling, it is known to be quiet alert, with its head raised above the ground.The highest speed of a blue racer snake recorded till date is about 3.47 miles per hour. This snake is known to crawl across relatively shorter distances at rather high speeds.Sometimes, this snake can travel long distances from its activity area to its hibernaculum and back.The hibernation season falls between September to November however, in some places, it may not be spotted before late March.In fact, during its hibernation, it may be found at any place that provides protection and warmth from the freezing temperatures outside. A blue racer is known to hibernate in places such as burrows of small mammals and crayfish, crevices of rocks, rotting logs of wood, foundations of old buildings, etc.It is worth noting that the blue racer is a good climber, and so it is also often found several feet (even up to 20 to 30 feet) above the ground level.In certain regions such as southern Michigan, this snake may also be found alongside ponds and marshes, especially if such areas are frequented by its prey.It is also known to inhabit old dunes and sand prairies.These include shrubby fencerows, hedgerows, stone walls, old farmlands, thickets, and open woodlands. A blue racer is generally found in sunny and dry habitats.However, once it starts maturing, this pattern begins to fade away, and disappears completely by the age of three.

    blue racer

    A juvenile blue racer varies in appearance from a fully grown adult in that, it bears a distinctive pattern of reddish-brown to gray spots on its gray body.

    blue racer

  • The head is darker than the body, the eyes are also relatively larger in size, and the scales on its snout are brownish orange in color.
  • Its ventral scales are creamy white to light blue in color.
  • Its back has a shiny tinge to it, and solidly colored in bluish, greenish, or sometimes, grayish shades.
  • In Ontario, it ranks among the province’s largest snakes.
  • The blue racer is a large snake, ranging between four to six feet in length.













  • Blue racer