Prairie Kingsnake

Breeding:
Nests June to July. Female lays 5-17 eggs, 1 ¾ -2” long, in earth cavity below ground
surface. Young hatch in 7-11 weeks at 8-11”, August to September.

Habitat:
Open fields, cultivated farmland, barnyards, pastures, prairies, rocky hillsides, open woodland.

Range:
C. Maryland to n. Florida west to se. Nebraska and e. Texas.

Subspecies:
Prairies, scales in 25 or 27 rows; interspaces between blotches about equal in size to
blotch; belly with to yellowish, clouded or spotted with brown; w. Illinois southwest to
the Gulf in sc. Louisiana, west to se. Nebraska, e. Kansas, Oklahoma, and e. Texas.
Mole Snake, scales in 21 or 23 rows; back blotches will separated; belly yellow with
brown rectangular blotches; c. Maryland to n. Florida west to c. Tennessee and se.
Louisiana.

Secretive; spends much of the day in animal burrows or under rocks or several inches of loose soil. Most frequently seen crossing roads after a rainstorm or on warm spring or summer bights. Eats small rodents, birds, frogs, lizards, and other snakes. Usually mild tempered. One captive animal lived 11 years.