James L. Cummins
The Corn Snake by James L. Cummins
The corn snake is a nonvenomous snake found mostly throughout the Central and Southeastern United States. Closely related to the rat snake, the corn snake is often referred to as a “red rat snake.” This is an obvious referral to its coloring which usually ranges between a reddish-orange and an orange-brown color. Unfortunately, the markings and color of a corn snake sometimes leads to confusion by those with little knowledge of snakes. When confused with the venomous copperhead, this often leads to the unnecessary killing of a harmless and beneficial snake.
There has always been some controversy surrounding the name of the corn snake. Some argue the snake is so named because it is commonly found in corn and other crop fields. Others say the name stems from the fact that corn snakes live in barns where rats come to feed on corn. Still others argue that the name simply comes from the snake’s distinctive pattern of its belly scales that closely resemble the kernels of variegated corn. Regardless of how it got its name or where it is commonly found, the corn snake is a highly sought after pet.
Corn snakes generally have a very docile disposition, and their mature size makes them an ideal candidate for those wanting a snake as a pet. The average length of an adult corn snake is between 2 and 6 feet, and they can live up to 20 years if properly cared for.
Corn snakes prefer to live in trees, palmetto flatwoods, overgrown fields, farms, and near grain bins or even abandoned buildings. It is unusual to see a corn snake anywhere except the ground until it has surpassed the age of 4 months. These snakes can also be found active both day and night; however, they do tend to be nocturnal in hot weather.
After the cooler months of winter, the male courts the female with tactile and chemical cues. If the female is ovulating at this time, she will lay eggs within 2 months after breeding. The female usually chooses a warm, moist, hidden location, such as rotting stumps or decaying vegetation, to lay anywhere from 10 to 30 eggs. However, once the female has laid the eggs, she then abandons them, never to return.
The eggs have a flexible, leathery shell and are oblong in shape. Nearly 10 weeks after laying, the young snakes will use a specialized scale, referred to as an egg tooth, to slice slits in the eggshell. These young will emerge measuring between 5 and 15 inches in length.
As with all snakes, corn snakes are carnivorous and will eat every few days in the wild. Corn snakes kill their prey using constriction since their bite is not venomous. The juveniles will feed mostly on frogs and lizards, but adults eat mostly small mammals and birds. The rodent is a corn snake’s preferred meal.
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