The red rat snake, also known as the corn snake, is primarily nocturnal, often active in the early evening. The name corn snake originated from the similarity of its white and black checkered belly markings to the checkered patterns of kernels on Indian corn. It’s terrestrial and arboreal and on occasion will use its climbing skills to raid bird nests of young chicks. It will use trees, abandoned houses and barns to search for food. The corn snake is found in much of the south-central and southeastern United States and has many colors and patterns specific to certain geographic populations. The color pattern most found is an orange, red or gray background with brownish red saddles (patches). The ventral color is usually white or light cream with sparsely distributed black stripes. The corn snake is narrow in girth and has weakly keeled scales and smooth scales. Corn snakes will occasionally breed and produce several fertile eggs without hibernation, but they are more eager to mate and will have greater fertility rates if they are hibernated.
| Habitat: |
Southern U.S. west through Colorado and Utah, and down through Mexico |
| Weight: |
Up to 3 lb. |
| Length: |
Up to 6 ft. |
| Mating: |
March to May |
| Gestation: |
60-75 days to hatch |
| Young: |
Up to 21 eggs, in May to July |
| Family: |
Colubridae |
| Order: |
Squamata |
| Habit: |
Solitary |
| Diet: |
Rodents, birds, and occasionally bats |
| Life Span: |
20 or more years |
