# King Snake question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 7, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749 "2003-07-07T12:32:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/1 "2003-07-07T12:32:47Z")
I found a [speckled kingsnake](http://www.biology.wustl.edu/tyson/faunareptspking.html) plowing up the dirt with his nose just outside the front door. This annoyed Mrs. Plant, so I moved the snake about fifty feet away. He came back and continued to dig, eventually unearthing some reptile eggs about 3/4" in diameter and 1 2/4" long. I moved him about a half mile. He came back. I dug up the eggs and reburied them across the road. He laid in the hole the eggs came from, and ran like hell whenever I approached. One the second day he gave up and left. What was he doing? Looking for lunch? Checking on his/her children? ---
**Author:** ![radar\_ralf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@radar\_ralf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radar_ralf)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/2 "2003-07-07T16:34:00Z")
That is one beautiful critter. He “ran like hell,” eh? I woulda liked ta seen that. My guess is that she was checking on her future children. ---
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/3 "2003-07-07T17:12:53Z")
Well, some snakes burrow, though I don’t know if this particular specis is one of them. Additionally, some snakes also eat eggs, so your could’ve been checking on his/her progeny or looking for a little snack. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/4 "2003-07-07T17:25:42Z")
Did you know the preferred food of a kingsnake is another snake? They especially like copperheads, and are immune to their venom. A kingsnake is a great thing to have in your yard, especially if you’re in copperhead country! ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/5 "2003-07-07T17:27:35Z")
You’ll have to see who comes out of the eggs before you can decide for sure… ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/6 "2003-07-07T17:36:55Z")
While king snakes are most often associated with eating other snakes, Lampropeltis getula holbrooki are known to eat eggs as well. I couldn’t find any references to whether they disregard their own nest or not. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/7 "2003-07-07T18:49:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Labdad \* > \*\*They especially like copperheads, and are immune to their venom. \*\* A cite on their preference for coppeheads would be much appreciated. It will please Mrs. Plant, lengthen the life of the king snake and make life much easier for me. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/8 "2003-07-07T19:30:42Z")
This should help… [California King Snake](http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azkgsnke.html) [Common King Snake](http://www.desertusa.com/magfeb98/feb_pap/du_kingsnake.html) From the second site: > [@](#): > > Habits > The Kingsnake derives its name from its habit of eating other snakes, and is most famous for eating rattlesnakes, copperheads and coral snakes. But it also feeds on other snakes, lizards, birds and their eggs, small mammals, turtles and frogs. It is usually active in the morning and later afternoon but under very hot conditions will be active at night. > > Life Cycle > Kingsnakes mate from March through June. The female lays a clutch of 4 to 20 eggs from May to August. The incubation period varies between 47 and 81 days. Hatchlings are 8 to 13 inches in length and reach maturity in 3 to 4 years. Once the female lays eggs, she shows no more interest in the young. That last sentence tells me that it might have been looking for a snack… ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/9 "2003-07-07T19:41:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yeticus Rex \* > \*\* > That last sentence tells me that it might have been looking for a snack… \*\* …and I saved three hapless terrapins. 🙂 Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/10 "2003-07-07T19:58:22Z")
From [this site](http://www.science.mcmaster.ca/Biology/Harbour/SPECIES/NWSNAKE/IMAGES/SNAKE.HTM) (Scroll down until you get to the part about Prairie Kingsnakes and Speckled Kingsnakes): “Kingsnakes are known for their ability to eat other snakes, including venomous species, and are immune to the venom of copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlesnakes. Other foods include lizards, small rodents and, occasionally, birds.” I had a biology professor in college who was known as one of the premier herpetologists in the southeast. He used to tell us that one should derive no more pleasure from killing a snake than one should from killing a robin or a cardinal. Nonetheless, he lived well away from town on a lot that was infested with copperheads. He asked us to bring him any kingsnakes we might find. He said two or three of them could take care of his copperhead problem within a month! Anecdotal, I know - but this guy knew his snakes! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/11 "2003-07-07T20:22:38Z")
Thanks, Labdad. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/12 "2003-07-08T01:55:56Z")
A few years back when I was living in the rural hillsides of So-Cal (as opposed to the Mojave Desert, ok very little difference here!), I hired some guys to clear out some brush on the slope of my property, and these guys told me later that they found and killed 2 snakes and I asked if they were rattlers and they said no, they were mostly black and they showed me one of the lifeless snakes. I berated them and gave them a stern lecture about king snakes and the benefits of their existence (and the lack of gophers, mice, other snakes, etc. because of their existence). They offered to give me $50 off on the job which I refused to take advantage of, but I made them recite everything about king snakes and what to do next time they see one; just admire it and let it go so it can do it’s job so we don’t have to… Those snakes were worth a lot more than a lousy $50…:mad: ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/13 "2003-07-08T12:03:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yeticus Rex \* > \*\* I made them recite everything about king snakes and what to do next time they see one \*\* You “made them” how, by refusing their wages? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/14 "2003-07-08T16:25:09Z")
He’s back, hanging out in the same hole. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do about it on the phone while I’m at work… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/15 "2003-07-08T17:39:43Z")
They were pretty sorry when they realized what kind of snakes they were and didn’t want to make that same mistake again, so I showed them the basic differences between a venomous and non-venomous snakes. They were all to glad to repeat what they learned instead of giving up the $50. Your snake will get hungry eventually and go elsewhere looking for food unless there are more eggs in or near the hole. Is there some natural repellent that you can use to keep it away from your front door, but not drive him away from your property totally? They are very beneficial and you really don’t want to get rid of it if you have other rodent/snake problems. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-snake-question/186749/16 "2003-07-08T17:53:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yeticus Rex \* > \*\* Is there some natural repellent that you can use to keep it away from your front door, but not drive him away from your property totally? \*\* Perhaps Mrs. Plant jumping up and down… 🙂