Snake facts: 10 surprising, scary and very cool things to know
Why do snakes flick their tongues? Can snakes smell fear? This video reveals 10 amazing facts about rattlesnakes, flying snakes and other species.
The Republic
The North American racer is one of Ohio’s fastest and most aggressive snakes.While not venomous, racers can inflict a painful bite if they feel threatened.The species is divided into the black racer in eastern Ohio and the blue racer in western Ohio.These snakes can reach speeds of 8 to 10 mph and are also excellent climbers.
These snakes are among the fastest in Ohio, which may be bad news if you encounter one because they are also very aggressive. And they can climb trees.
They may not be venomous like three other species in Ohio, but they can “strike viciously” and “inflict a painful bite with their small but numerous teeth,” according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Meet the North American racer, a common snake in Ohio that grows to between 3 and 5 feet in length. The species is divided between the black racer in the eastern half of Ohio and the blue racer in the western half, according to ODNR’s Reptiles of Ohio Field Guide.
An ODNR Division of Wildlife Facebook post sharing their vicious reputation recently went viral. Here’s what to know.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Facebook post about blue racer goes viral
ODNR’s Division of Wildlife recently shared a photo of a blue racer lounging in some branches, with the post stating the snakes “are extremely nervous and become very aggressive when an attempt is made to capture them.” The post has gone viral with 1,600 reactions, 212 comments and 208 shares as of Oct. 24. And some of those comments are defending the racer’s aggressive reputation.
“To those who think aggressive isn’t a proper way if describing them, wait until you encounter one who will race to you across an open stretch just to continue chasing you with neck raised cobra style?! Yeah, aggressive works for me,” wrote Deborah Pfeifer Knowles, who ended the comment with a snake emoji.
Another commenter described having a pair of racers threaten him while he was riding a bicycle as a kid.
What to do if you encounter a North American racer in Ohio?
So, what happens if you encounter one in the wild?
If the snake is alarmed, it may vibrate its tail, per the Field Guide. Racers rely more on their vision than other snake species, so they may approach a person or other predator. They will get aggressive if “annoyed by a person,” according to the Ohio Public Library Information Network, and will strike out.
But mostly they will try to flee, per the library network. If you happen to be between the racer and its underground hideout, you may mistake its rapid movement toward you for an attack when it’s really trying to escape, according to the Ohio chapter of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.Â
What do the black, blue racers look like?
The blue racer has gunmetal gray coloring with a greenish or bluish cast, according to the field guide. The black racer is a uniform medium or plain black color.
How fast are the North American racers?
They are among the fastest snakes in the Buckeye State with top speed of 8 to 10 mph.
What is the habitat of the black, blue racer?
They can live in a variety of habitats, including fencerows, fields and grasslands, woodlands and the edges of ponds and streams. They are excellent climbers, according to the field guide, with some having been observed 2 or 3 meters (approximately 6 to 10 feet) from the ground.