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Description
Eastern kingsnakes are large, usually 3 to 4 feet in length, though some specimens have been measured to be over 6 feet long. They are glossy, black snakes with yellow or white bands running across their bodies. Sometimes they are referred to as chain kings because of these markings. Eastern kings have small heads that are marked with yellow or white spots.
Habitat
Eastern kingsnakes favor wooded areas that are near marshes or other bodies of water. They hide under rocks, fallen logs and in brush. In urban areas, they are found near stone walls and along railroad embankments.
Mating
Male eastern kingsnakes mature at between 1 and 4 years and females at 2 and 4 years. The males engage in wrestling competitions for mating with females, according to Sarah Barth in her article for the Animal Diversity Web. Mating occurs in early spring and extends through mid-summer.
Reproduction
The gestation time for the eastern kingsnake is about 60 days. A female can lay 3 to 24 eggs, with 10 being the average. Her clutch may contain eggs fertilized by more than one male. Nests are typically found in rotted tree trunks, piles of woody debris or other safe places. Female kings do not return to their nests after laying eggs.
Feeding
The eastern kingsnake's main food source is other snakes, including venomous snakes such as the copperhead, the timber rattlesnake and the massasauga rattlesnake. The king has digestive enzymes which neutralize snake venom before it can be harmed. It also eats reptiles, small mammals and birds' eggs.
Predators
Hawks hunt the eastern king. Mammals such as raccoons, skunks and opossum are also predators of this snake. While a kingsnake will avoid confrontation with a predator, it has defensive behaviors which include hissing, an s-shaped striking pose and biting. When it feels threatened, it releases a musky scent to warn other kingsnakes of the danger.