The eastern kingsnake is a shiny black snake with thin white or cream-colored bands. This reptile also is called the “chain snake” because the lines that stretch across its back are linked along the sides. The species’ typical length is 3-4 feet long, but the record is almost 7 feet.
Although the eastern kingsnake might look scary at first glance, it is harmless and very beneficial to have in your yard. The snake is resistant to pit-viper venom and readily eats copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlesnakes; hence, its title as “king” of all snakes. Killing non-venomous snakes, including the eastern kingsnake, is illegal in Georgia
WILD Facts is a regular feature written by Linda May, a wildlife interpretive specialist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.
Although the eastern kingsnake might look scary at first glance, it is harmless and very beneficial to have in your yard. The snake is resistant to pit-viper venom and readily eats copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlesnakes; hence, its title as “king” of all snakes. Killing non-venomous snakes, including the eastern kingsnake, is illegal in Georgia
WILD Facts is a regular feature written by Linda May, a wildlife interpretive specialist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.