Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttata)

Description: A medium to large snake (76–122 cm; 30–48 in) with an orange, reddish-brown, brown, or gray dorsum marked by 27–40 squarish, black-bordered blotches. The venter is boldly checkered in black and white, resembling Indian corn or a piano keyboard. A spear-shaped blotch extends from the top of the head toward the nose, and a stripe runs from behind the eye past the corner of the jaw. Additional features include smooth scales and black stripes on either side of the tail’s underside. Often confused with Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix), but Copperheads have hourglass-shaped blotches and are generally more uniformly brown.

Range and Habitat: Occurs from southern New Jersey to Virginia, with the primary range extending south through the Carolinas to the Florida Keys and west to eastern Louisiana and southern Tennessee. A disjunct population exists in Kentucky. In the Southeast, corn snakes are most common in the Coastal Plain and patchily distributed in the Piedmont and Mountains. They favor dry, upland habitats such as sandy pinewoods and areas with abundant mammal burrows. Also tolerant of human disturbance, often found in barns, old buildings, agricultural lands, and occasionally inside homes in search of rodents.

Habits: Secretive, spending much time underground or under cover such as logs, boards, or tin. Excellent climbers, with juveniles often found beneath bark or in shrubs. Active both day and night, but primarily nocturnal during summer. Prey includes small mammals, birds, reptiles, and lizards (particularly favored by juveniles). Reproduction occurs in spring; females lay large clutches of oval eggs in rotten logs or other warm, moist refugia.

Conservation Status: Common and widespread throughout most of its range. Not protected in most southeastern states, though legally protected in Georgia.