Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This picture is one of a series taken by a co-worker of mine. She lives just outside of Kansas City MO. She was attracted to the scene by something flipping around in her back yard. What she found was the large black snake with just a little of the garter hanging out of its mouth. Over a period of about 1/2 hour the black snake slowly regrugitated the garter (who is still alive). Another neighbor is taking care of the garter, but the question is what is the black snake. He was rather large and relatively thick bodied.

There is disagreement here whether it is a black rat , spotted king or blue racer. Any help would be appreciated!

Audrey Zoog

Wow! Jeez, the garter is still alive, that is lucky! How’s the garter doing? Is it cut up, or half-digested?! It looks like a blue racer to me. I never knew they eat other snakes though. If indeed it is a blue racer. That's really neat.
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James

The garter is doing ok--it was pretty dazed, and like you I'm amazed it is even alive! It's lower jaw was a little messed up but it is recouperating and the jaw is slowly straightening back out. Hopefully it can be released soon--other than the jaw everything else seems OK. I don't know a lot about Blue Racers--the ones that I have caught and messed with around my place have been much lightered colored--more of the blue-grey and a lot more slender than this snake appeared. Thanks for the reply!!

Audrey Zoog

Perhaps an odd colored eastern Kingsnake.

BTW that is ONE LUCKY Snake

that that is a racer. Looks way to heavy bodied to me. Racers and coachwhips are normally rather thin, cylindrical snakes. I would have to go with some sort of kingsnake maybe. Where are you located? Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

I caught a few racers in Missouri and the larger ones were thick bodied. And racers are pretty much garbage cans when it comes to food so a garter snake is definitely not out of the norm. I do agree that most racers are slender bodied, but I've seen a few from Missouri (Pulaski county) that were thick....
Snakes of Eddy County, NM

It still just doens't look like a racer to me...I have caught and seen some nice sized ones. But certainly nothing like that...girth looks more like a kingsnakes to me. But I def. believe you. Wish there were better pics! Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

I wonder if he upchucked the garter because of the musk that garters produce?

NM

ok well i looked at this snake....

you say it was long and thick bodied eh?...

well the scales look smooth and shiny...and the color is a bit off for a racer(blue) also it looks to thick bobied to me for a racer..the head seems to be a lil off too...

where do u live exactly because im wandering if mayby u stumbled apon a indigo snake..thay are large bodied..drk blue and are known to pray on other snakes ( like a kingsnake)..which seems to be what he was doing lol