Racers are slender and agile snakes. Adults are uniformly pale blue, bluish-green, olive-green, gray, or brown above. As you might expect, the belly is cream to bright yellow in color.

Young racers are marked with brown blotches which disappear as the reptile grows. Racers are a family of snakes that can be found across the United States, living in abandoned fields, sparse brushy areas and clearings in woodlands.

This species is active by day and will take shelter under rocks, brush or in animal burrows if pursued. As the name implies, they can move very fast – especially through tall grass or brush.

This snake averages about three feet in length and does not constrict its prey, rather it simply overpowers it. The racer’s food items includes frogs, lizards, snakes, small rodents and birds.

I enjoy coming across them in the morning when the weather is cool and they are somewhat easy to catch. Their large scales have a satiny shine and their alert, curious nature gives them a special appeal.

Third Eye Herp
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