Background Information

Corn snakes can be found throughout the south-eastern and central United States as well as parts of Mexico. However, corn snakes are most prevalent in the south-east such as Florida. They are mostly found in wooded groves, rocky hillsides, meadowlands, woodlots, barns, and abandoned buildings. Corn snakes are also often found in corn fields and it is because of this that many beleive corns snakes got their name.

Diet

In the wild, Corn snakes feed every few days. Young hatchlings tend to feed on lizards and tree frogs, while adults feed on larger prey, such as mice, rats and birds. They are constrictors, which mean that they use their body to wrap coils around their victim and suffocate them before swallowing it whole, head first. However, corn snakes have also been observed swallowing small prey alive.

Life Span

The life span of the Corn snake is up to 23 years in captivity (the average around 15 years), but is generally much less in the wild due to factors such as natural predators and general living conditions.

Status

Corn snakes are not an endangered species. However, they are listed by the state of Florida as a Species of Special Concern because of the destruction in the lower Florida Keys which is having a bad effect on their natural habitat. Corn snakes are also often mistaken for copperheads, which are one of the most common venomous snakes in Eastern USA and so unfortunately killed.