The blue racer (Coluber constrictor foxii) is one of Ontario’s largest snakes, reaching lengths up to 2 meters. They can be spotted darting through open prairies, grasslands, old fields, and forest edges where they hunt actively during the day in warm, sunny weather. They are distinguished by their brilliant blue/grey lateral scales contrasting sharply with creamy white underbellies, and a black mask around the eyes. Young blue racers display prominent dark brown blotches against a greyish background that provide excellent camouflage in their early years. These distinctive blotches fade completely by the third year.
The male and female look almost identical, the main difference is in reproduction: males reach sexual maturity in their 2nd year, while females reach sexual maturity in their 3rd year.
Blue racers prefer semi-open habitats such as savannahs, alvars, grasslands, fields and open woodlands during the active season (April to October). Winters are spent in communal hibernation sites such as burrows or rock crevasses.
In the U.S, blue racers are found in several northern states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. In recent decades their range in Canada has shrunk from several areas on the mainland of Southern Ontario to one isolated population on Pelee Island, making them one of the province’s most endangered snakes.
Age of maturation is reached at 11 months for the male (sexual maturation at 2 years old) and 24 months for the female (sexual maturation at 3 years old) and they will live on average 10 years in the wild. Mating occurs from April through May, and females lay approximately 15 eggs (ranging from 4 to 20) in late June in warm, sheltered locations like fallen decaying logs, under large rocks, or in piles of decomposing organic matter. Eggs incubate for roughly two months, hatching from mid August to late September into miniature versions of adults measuring 20-29 cm long. Hatchlings are immediately independent, receiving no parental care and must fend entirely for themselves from birth.
Although habitat loss is the primary threat to the Canadian blue racer population, individuals may also fall victim to road mortality, agricultural equipment, and intentional human persecution.
The Blue Racer Recovery Strategy cites hibernation and nesting locations as the areas most important to the species’ continued survival. In recent years, efforts have been made to protect and restore blue racer habitat on Pelee Island, with tree removal and a prescribed burn taking place to maintain savannah conditions. Surveys to estimate the population size of blue racers on Pelee Island are currently being carried out (2020-2022) to update the estimate done from 2000-2002, along with recent genetic studies to determine the long-term sustainability of the Canadian blue racer population.
Find out how Wildlife Preservation Canada helps save Canada’s reptiles and amphibians, including blue racers, and how you can make a difference.
Protect open grassland habitats, especially on Pelee Island where the Canadian population survives. Slow down while driving in snake habitat, particularly during mating season (April to May) and nesting season (June to August) when snakes cross roads more frequently. If you encounter a blue racer, leave it alone, it’s far more interested in escaping than harming you. Report sightings to help track population recovery.
Q: Are blue racers actually dangerous?
A: Blue racers are non-venomous and pose no serious threat to humans. However, they will defend themselves if cornered or grabbed by striking, biting, and releasing a smelly musk. The key is to give them space, their preferred strategy is to flee at impressive speeds rather than confront threats. Most human encounters simply involve catching a glimpse of the snake disappearing through grass.
Q: Why do people tell stories about blue racers "chasing" them?
A: Rural folklore has long included tales of “chasing snakes,” but this is largely exaggeration. When a blue racer is disturbed, it moves rapidly away from the threat. If you’re walking toward the snake and it’s moving away in your general direction, it may appear to be “chasing” you, but it’s actually just trying to escape. Their speed and directness sometimes creates this illusion.
Q: Can blue racers really move at seven kilometres an hour?
A: Yes, this snake is one of North America’s fastest snakes, capable of moving at speeds that make them extremely difficult to catch or even follow visually. This speed helps them hunt agile prey like insects and small rodents, and also allows them to escape larger predators like hawks, owls, raccoons, and coyotes.
