For more information
on other animals found at Cub Creek Science Camp visit our
animal page.
Corn Snake
AKA Red Rat Snake
The
CornSnake,
also known as the Red Rat
Snake, is one
of several species of rat
snakes
occurring in the United States. Rat
snakes are
large, powerful, non-venomous
snakes which
feed on a variety of prey species which they overpower
by constriction.
CornSnakes are
highly variable in coloration and pattern depending on
the age of the snake
and the region of the country in which it is found. They
are generally very colorful
snakes with
most adults displaying vivid colors of reddish or orange
blotches edged in black with a grayish to orange colored
background tinged with yellow. The belly of the
snake usually
consists of alternating rows of black and white,
resembling a checkerboard pattern.
In the wild,
CornSnakes tend to be
quite secretive and appear to be active mostly at night.
During daylight hours they may be found hiding under loose
tree bark and beneath logs, rocks, and other debris. If
disturbed, they often strike repeatedly at the intruder
while vibrating their tail. In dry leaves, the vibrating of
the tail may resemble the buzz of a rattlesnake,
fooling some predators in to leaving them alone.
CornSnakes prefer
habitats such as overgrown fields, forest openings, and
abandoned or seldom used buildings where their favorite food
of mice and other small rodents is abundant. Like other rat
snakes,
CornSnakes are
excellent climbers and often climb high in trees looking for
nestling birds and other prey. This information was
taken from
www.wildwnc.org
