Critter of the Week May 30: Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata guttata) aka Red Rat Snake

This beautiful snake is a relatively common snake; however their wild numbers are possibly being negatively impacted by illegal collection for the pet trade (BOO! on this illegal activity!). If you are looking to buy a snake as a pet and choose this species, please ask the pet store or distributor you purchase the snake from where the animal came from!

Corn snakes can be found throughout Florida and range to the Mississippi River and then nrothward to southern New Jersey. They can be found in a variety of habitats including pinelands, swamps, agricultural areas, residential areas, and hardwood hammocks. Frogs, rodents, lizards, and birds and bird eggs are their primary prey. From April to June, they breed and females will 3-40 eggs during the summer months. From July to September these eggs hatch and the young cornsnakes try to repeat the cycle of life.