Has anyone..

[Elleken]

Ever kept any Western Yellow-bellied Racers? I just moved to Utah and these guys are everywhere. On a recent herp outing I found a nest of these little guys and they sure have attitude. I collected one out of a least 10 neonates that I saw. I've read up on them and it seems in general racers are not a commonly kept snake. They are supposed to have a mean/nervous attitude, but my little guy is more inquisitive then anything. It doesn't really roam but rather just sits there and watches everything going on around it. Also when approached to handle (had to clean the cage already) it really doesn't seem to mind my intrusion.

[Skiploder]

Ever kept any Western Yellow-bellied Racers? I just moved to Utah and these guys are everywhere. On a recent herp outing I found a nest of these little guys and they sure have attitude. I collected one out of a least 10 neonates that I saw. I've read up on them and it seems in general racers are not a commonly kept snake. They are supposed to have a mean/nervous attitude, but my little guy is more inquisitive then anything. It doesn't really roam but rather just sits there and watches everything going on around it. Also when approached to handle (had to clean the cage already) it really doesn't seem to mind my intrusion.

Just a rescue.

One of my crews unearthed his burrow when we were prepping to pave a rural road in western Marin County last spring. The shoulders were overgrown and we were using a grader to trim them back.

It was a full grown male and he was stunned from the cold. I was able to free-handle him and examine him for injuries.

The local wildlife rescue facility examined him and asked me to keep him while his injuries healed. I had him for about four months before I donated him back the the facility where he is on display in the wildlife museum.

After about 5 weeks of keeping him I started to think that the racer reputation was undeserved. He was very calm and tolerated handling well. That was short-lived. I took more bites from him in the next 15 weeks than I have total in 25+ years of keeping reptiles.

[Elleken]

Haha, well I guess if anything it will help my pain tolerance and reflexes. I'm determined to get him tamed now. Then again this is a baby and may make the task a bit easier.