Racer snakes3/24/2023 Each day, we eagerly surveyed hibernation sites, desperate to catch a glimpse of a racer poking out to soak up some warmth. Without the warmth of the sun, blue racers remained hidden in their hibernacula for a little longer than usual. During the past two spring surveys, the team had observed blue racers on the same day that they arrived at the island, and so I was ready to see my lifer blue racer as soon as we docked! However, this year spring began on Pelee Island with a long stretch of cold, overcast, and rainy days. They wait until spring temperatures are consistently warm before they emerge from hibernation and are often found basking in the sun nearby.Īs a new member to the snake research team, this spring was my first time visiting Pelee Island, and my first time ever seeing blue racers in the wild. As ectotherms, blue racers rely on the warmth of the sun to speed up their metabolic rate and provide them with energy. This is the third and final year of blue racer surveys, contributing to the updated population estimate.īlue racer surveys in early spring are focused around their hibernacula, which are typically holes in exposed rock that allow them to go underground for the winter. The population size for blue racers on Pelee Island has not been assessed for 20 years, and so an updated estimation will provide insight on how the population has been doing since then, and will inform conversation and management efforts. Read Ryan’s post here: The plight of Canada’s only remaining population of blue racer. Black racer snakes are often confused with venomous snakes, such as copperheads and rattlesnakes. They get their name from their racing-like movement and can reach speeds of up to 10 miles per hour. They are dark in color, with smooth, glossy skin. One of the many ongoing projects to conserve the remaining blue racer population in Canada includes the calculation of an updated population estimate for the species, lead by Ryan Wolfe. Black racer snakes are a type of non-venomous snake that is found in the southeastern United States. Close up of a blue racer, in hand before being released.
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