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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Northern Racer

Northern racers are not NASCAR dudes hailing from above the Mason Dixon line.   Nope. 

This is a northern racer.
photo:  pwhs.webs.com/reptilesofpa.htm
K2 came across a big one of these on one of our paths.     She didn't disturb him and luckily I was nearby.     I like snakes so I took the opportunity to try and flip him over with a long handled hoe.    He didn't like it.   At all.    See that long skinny tail?    He started thrashing around and rattling that tail like a rattler - pretty distinctive behavior and enough for us to identify him later.

Interesting factoid:   Northern black racers are classified as Coluber constrictor constrictor .   However, they are not constrictors.