Learn More about Corn Snakes

Scientific Name: Pantherophis guttatus Their latin name translates to “Spotted or Speckled Panther Snake”, mostly due to the pattern of their scales. Panthers were thought to be the ‘predators of all’ and these snakes will hunt a large variety of prey animals.

Description: Corn snakes hatch at 8-12 inches long and can grow up to 6 feet! Also known as red rat snakes, they are often orange or a brown-yellow color with large reddish blotches along their backs. Their bellies have a checkerboard of black and white scales that are reminiscent of multicolored corn kernels, hence the name corn snake. These thin snakes only weigh 1-3 pounds and are often mistaken for the venomous copperhead to which they appear quite similar. 

Behavior: Corn snakes can live into their early twenties under human care, but often have shorter lifespans in the wild due to predation. Being predators themselves, they hunt small vertebrates such as lizards, frogs, bats, mice and small birds. The snake will strike and bite their prey to get a firm grip before coiling around to constrict around the prey animal and – like all snakes – swallow their prey whole. Corn snakes are primarily diurnal and are mostly terrestrial. Young snakes can be seen climbing into trees and some adults have been recorded doing so as well. Their coloration allows them to easily camouflage with leaves on the ground and they can be found half-buried in leaf litter. Corn snakes will breed between March and May each year and females will lay 10-30 eggs in a warm, dark space. When the eggs hatch 60-65 days later, the babies are precocial, meaning they can care for themselves without any parental supervision or assistance.

Diet: Carnivores- they eat a variety of small mammals, amphibians and other reptiles. Sometimes these snakes will eat eggs as well.

Range and Habitat: Found in the Southeast and Southcentral of the United States of America, Corn snakes inhabit a variety of habitats including meadows, hillsides, woodlots, open rocky areas and wooded groves. They are highly adaptable to human areas and can often be seen in barns or abandoned buildings as well.

Conservation: Corn snakes are considered a species Least Concern, except in Florida where they are facing habitat destruction. Florida has marked Corn snakes as a species of Special Concern.

How you can help: If you or anyone you know lives in Florida, it is important to vote for any legislature that will protect what is left of the Corn snakes’ habitat. When visiting these areas, follow the practice of Leave No Trace. Pick up any trash created and do not remove any natural items from the area. Creating rock cairns (stacked rocks) is actually harmful to their habitat. It removes hiding places as well as basking spots for the snakes. Removing or dismantling rock cairns is an important part of Leave No Trace.