Racer X

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Oh my! It's the Speed Racer of snakes... at least for my area in NW Cali!
Since I began working up on the Bald Hills Prairie in Redwood National and State Parks, I have virtually lost count of how many Western Yellow-bellied Racers I have come across. Coluber constrictor mormon is everywhere! And they live up to their name. Try to catch one! Just try to even get a photo of one (especially when you're packed with gear!). Also, on numerous ocassions we have witnessed their feeding behavior. It seems that, just like garters, prey goes down the hatch alive. So there we are eradicating invasive grasses, and then you hear the squeeking, and you look, and there goes a racer with a baby gopher or field mouse in its mouth... just movin' along feeding on the run! I am still trying to figure out why the epithet constrictor is named as such.... there's no constricting going on! Anyways, here are some pics...

[infernalis]

Excellent Steven!

"Yellow Belly Racer" reminds me of childhood, local farmers mistakenly called ringnecks yellow belly racers, and red belly snakes were commonly called red belly racers.

Rough greens were called "grass snakes" & the dreaded spotted adder??
(the exact reason I keep my eastern milk snake, she's a "show and tell" snake)

Nice photos, as always..

[crzy_kevo]

very nice too bad you couldn't get a video to show how fast they are

and i love the solid colors

[jitami]

Steven, we're simply going to have to come visit your part of the state sometime soon! We drove through about 2 years ago on a drive up the coast, but looking at some of the hikes and unpaved roads we're going to have to spend a little more time there

[Loren]

Nice finds Steven.

Racers are awesome snakes. I have only managed to catch a few in my life, the first of which is the only one I kept. I have had him for about 5 years now. He's about 40" long. He eats like an aggressive pig, but no- he doesnt ever constrict. Some of you have already seen these, but I'll show them again.

This pics a bit old, he's bigger now.


And I photographed this one in Lassen county. You might recognize this one from ca.herps.com

[Stefan-A]

Very nice find, Steven.

[Lori P]

Ditto! Great pics!!

[ssssnakeluvr]

Nice photos!!! I have a pair of them myself. very fast snakes!!!!!!

[anji1971]

Great pictures! They are incredibly nice-looking snakes -- nice find!

[Snake lover 3-25]

nice find!!!!! great pics!!!!!