Herping for Blue Racers in Michigan!

[@phorrestnightshade4397]

I grew up in Michigan, I don't recall seeing them, but there are stories of me as a 4 yo. finding them in the yard and chasing my dad around with them in my hands, my dad....a veteran, a survivor of a stabbing, a black man born in Louisiana in 1920.....was deathly afraid of snakes and would scream like a girl when he saw one.

[@ambergertsch8799]

Man I have always loved racers but those blue racers are so beautiful.

[@chucknapier5108]

Wow, amazing racers. We knew nothing of them as a kid, one struck out at my dad's head. Out of fear and no knowledge, we killed it. Now I see our mistake, totally harmeless. I have been coming across a variety of snakes around my property for a couple years now. Haven't harmed one yet. I shew them off, I hope all of them survive.

[@chevyheavy79]

Does it hurt when they bite?

[@felix121984]

So docile !

[@chuladademaizprieto0743]

I didn't know about the blue racer snakes, they are beautiful 🥰 Thanks for sharing👍🏾🐍🐍🐍

[@gregstone2905]

This got me in my feels a bit 😅 I did this as a young kid in the late 80s and early 90s summer after summer! Had Audubon Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians and everything! This was back when a 5,6,7,8,9 yro kid was okay to go off into the woods (or the pit as we had here) and hunt for snakes and other stuff from sun up to down! Not a whole lot here in terms of species on Cape Cod, the Black Racer was the big one! Did someone strategically lay these boards out bc that was always where I looked the most! Now I’m terrified of snakes 😅😅

[@Crashing310]

What I learned was to not to leave boards laying in grass if I don’t want snakes around.

[@KocaineNWaffles]

Those are such beautiful snakes. However I do know that the DNR wants to know about all massasauga sightings

[@tracycameron2580]

I love when you just leave them be.

[@jjlawnservice5229]

Rattle snakes r rare in Michigan so much so that they r protected

[@kevinreist7718]

He was saving that chipmunk for later. And you guys let him get away.

[@pimpompoom93726]

Some big ones there, where in Michigan was this?

[@onegrainofsand]

aweome vid!!!

[@wakefieldwildlife]

Thank you!

[@Dspalten]

My kitty cats just killed a baby blue racer that happen to come into my garage. The snake was a glowing blue/green absolutely beautiful. A shame that it came into kitty territory.

[@ahmada7333]

So these boards attracts snakes?

[@catbirdherping9857]

Gorgeous snakes!! Thanks for showing us!!

[@wakefieldwildlife]

Thank you too!

[@Kaliluo2]

Nice! I'm a Michigan herper and recognized Parker and Nick before checking the description, I follow them on Instagram and have chatted with them before. I'm really missing warm weather right now and found your videos, watching them reminds me of my passion and gets me pumped for the upcoming season! Thank you for sharing your adventures.

[@wakefieldwildlife]

Awesome! Thanks for following along!

[@bethanywakefield2693]

Those blue racers are cool!

[@wakefieldwildlife]

They sure are!

[@rexhavens4931]

I seen one in highland recreation area in white lake Michigan back in the 80s it was so big and fast it was actually whipping tree branches on the ground out of its way I've yet to see one even close to the size of the one I seen .

[@liamengelsma7450]

i caught my first blue racer a week ago, they are awesome snakes

[@wakefieldwildlife]

Cool!

[@atroxarmy7239]

I love Massasauga!!!

[@wakefieldwildlife]

Me too! Check out my massasauga video if you haven't already!

[@TheTrapperGuy]

Beautiful snakes! Love watching your videos. Motivates me I need to upgrade my photography skills.

[@wakefieldwildlife]

Thanks so much for commenting!

[@theescooter]

Blue Racers have disappeared from my area. Once you couldn't drive without seeing dead ones. Now, I have seen 2 dead ones in 5 years. What is happening to cause this. It's county wide, and depressing.

[@lucasprovencher7451]

It's great to see so many racer's in a concentrated area! Makes me a lot more motivated to set some boards out in my fields

[@wakefieldwildlife]

You should!

[@ToddAutry]

and it’s good to see this. I don’t see enough racers around here. Digging your videos man!!! Finding an Eastern sauga would be the ultimate!!

[@wakefieldwildlife]

Thanks so much, dude!!!

[@caseytiller8256]

I want one so bad all I can find are black racers for sale

[@jacobpiltz2070]

does anyone have any tips on how I can catch one. iv caught a lot of stuff iv caught Gardner snakes, norther water snakes. I really want to catch one but I never see them anywhere when I go in the woods looking for them. I live about 30 minutes away from Detroit.

[@KANSASCITYCHIEFSWIN]

I am in Clarkston and they are all over the place but hard to catch.

[@naturewithgabe]

Wow, they’re were everywhere. Such gorgeous snakes!

[@wakefieldwildlife]

Yeah, after many visits to see family in Michigan, it was nice to find this lifer!

[@wingsandbeaksbirder2312]

I’ve never even heard of a blue snake! How amazing! Great vids. I subbed.

[@wakefieldwildlife]

Thank you so much!

[@tesssanders7993]

I grew up on a cotton farm in East Tx. Sometimes a blue racer would raise up a couple of feet and of course we ran! And it would chase us. Usually one of my uncles would grab it by the tail and snap it like a bullwhp (the head would snap off) NOT recommended! They told us they weren't poisonous but still a snake!

[@bigbassmaster6924]

At my house, there’s hundreds. Usually 4-6ft so it’s a little intimidating when trying to pick them up

[@jessieoconnor4576]

I'm getting a pet blue racer this summer

[@TristanClark]

I wish my racers looked like that!

[@wakefieldwildlife]

Me too! The skinny southern black racers down here just don't compare

[@smetlogik]

Ridiculous looking racers up there, healthy looking. Love those blue racers from MI.

[@wakefieldwildlife]

They sure are amazing!

[@TheWildlifeBrothers]

I had no idea that Blue Racers are so common up there! Great finds!

[@wakefieldwildlife]

Thanks, guys!

[@wesleysimon955]

It's that one big one lol.🤔🤔😀🤫🤐

[@devynbourque8137]

Awesome finds! I'm from the center-west part of the Lower Peninsula, and these guys roam everywhere around the local community college. What's a bite from one of these things feel like?

[@wakefieldwildlife]

They are harmless, but can draw some blood.

[@tedd375]

I'm in owosso right in middle. Where u at? Nothing but green snakes and garters here. Occasional brown. I've seen a massasuaga and a bunch of ribbon snakes in Chelsea mi. But can't find any racers. Only seen one wayyy up in Cadillac but they're not very common up there I've heard. Looking for new herping places in Michigan with more than browns and garters

[@bleuemoone8710]

Where were you in MI? I’ve always wanted to see a massasagua

[@davidmorris5921]

Any ideas on how I can introduce racers to my property ? Thumb area .

[@wakefieldwildlife]

You can always set out some artificial cover along habitat edges on your property

[@brentmeadows9602]

Do they require sandy soil ?

[@brentmeadows9602]

Do they require sandy soil ?

[@DirectorOfChaos9292]

Why are they so blue? Also it looks like a gummy snake XD

[@InfiniteTVXQ]

I hoped no tails broke off during this filming.

[@321thach]

Why they don’t run try to get away? The black race in Florida are fast it very hard to catch them

[@wakefieldwildlife]

It's easier when you catch them by surprise, which is what happens when you find them under cover

[@bloodbottle703]

What part of Michigan is this

[@wakefieldwildlife]

Southeast

[@AB8Y_radio]

I was wondering the same thing. Blue racer videos are popping up because I was trying to figure out what the massive snake in my flower bed was. Funny thing I ran into a ribbon snake when I was working in the yard last night.

[@adventureswithbc]

First

[@wakefieldwildlife]

Haha, thanks!