This cache is part of the Auburn Hills Recreation Geocache Challenge. These caches are for the various animals that you may encounter in Michigan. Find the missing word at each cache and fill it in to the geocache decoder found at the end of the Auburn Hills Park Adventure Journal. Turn your completed book into the Auburn Hills Community Center for a fun prize! Please respect all park rules & regulations and please replace all caches as you found them. Thank You and have fun Geocaching!
(LAUNCHING SUMMER 2026) AUBURN HILLS GEOCACHING CHALLENGE DECORDER
The Blue racers, along with the tan, buttermilk, and northern black racers are all sub species of the _______ Racer snake found throughout North America.
Fun Fact: Blue Racers are known as a “racer” because of their fast speed, often traveling up to 4mph! This makes them one of the fastest snakes on the planet.
Common Name: Blue Racer
Scientific Name: Coluber constrictor foxii
Size: 3-5 feet in length
Range, Habitat, & Physical Description:
The Blue Racer is a common nonvenomous snake only found in a handful of midwestern states and southern Ontario. These beautiful snakes are a stunning blue-grey with a characteristic black face mask. The blue racer snake can be found in open or semi-open habitats, like hedgerows, meadows, old farm pastures, savannas or weedy lake edges (as seen near the cache) and marshes. They prefer these open habitat types as it allows them to use their keen eyesight and speed to hunt prey.
Behavior, Lifestyle & Diet:
Blue racers are diurnal hunters, meaning they hunt during the day. This allows them to hide away at night while their predators (raccoons, coyotes, and birds of prey) are out. When hunting they hold up their heads up and move very fast through brushes to better see their prey. They primarily feed on rodents, songbirds, frogs, smaller snakes, and insects (as juveniles). Blue racers will commonly nest communally, they even nest with other species, namely the eastern fox snake. When startled they will rattle their tail in the leaves mimicking that of a rattlesnake.
Relationships With Humans & How YOU Can Help Them:
The Blue Racer’s population is believed to be in decline due to habitat loss and degradation, and human-animal conflict. Blue racers seem to be relatively intolerant of high levels of human activity and are among the first snakes to disappear from suburban areas when they are developed. They are endangered in Canada and are only present on Pelee island
You can help them by giving them space when you encounter them in the wild and doing your part in preserving their habitat. Don’t approach or corner them, while they are nonvenomous, they can bite. Do your best to avoid developing fragile habits such as Medows and lake edges, leaving a barrier area of tall grass in between habitats can also help them.