​Natural History
LIFE: Female corn snakes lay approximately 15-20
eggs. These eggs tend to be laid in stumps, logs, or
burrows that are warm and humid. Corn snakes are
born roughly two to three months after the female
snakes lays her eggs. These snakes grow into mild-mannered
creatures with large brown and red-orange
spots that run along the backside of their body, with
their bellies having a black and white checkered
pattern. By the time the young snakes are adults, they
are approximately 18-44 inches in length, and male
corn snakes tend to be larger than female corn snakes.
At 16-18 months of age, female corn snakes are able
to begin laying eggs. Corn snakes' mating
season in the months of April-June. Adult corn snakes
can live up to 22 years in captivity, but it is unknown
how long they live in the wild. Generally, male corn
snakes have longer lifespans than female corn snakes.

HABITAT AND RANGE: Corn snakes live in
habitats ranging from deciduous forests, fields, grassy
areas to suburban areas near homes and barns. They
can even be found in mountains up to almost 6000 feet in
elevation. For nesting and basking, they particularly
enjoy rocks and logs. This makes corn snakes most
suitable to the eastern United States, particularly the
southeastern states. Corn snakes can even be found in
Northern Mexico.

DIET: Corn snakes are best known for eating
primarily rodents. They will also eat birds, bird eggs,
small reptiles, and small amphibians. To kill their prey,
corn snakes strike their prey and then pull the prey
into their bodies, unless the prey is too large. In this
case, they pull themselves onto the prey and wrap their
bodies around it.

CONSERVATION STATUS: Corn snakes, in
general, have a stable population and are not on the
endangered species list. However, in certain states,
habitat destruction and loss have led to the snakes
becoming endangered in specific areas. You can look
up your state to find out if corn snakes are endangered
near you.


SOURCE: Wildlife in Minnesota. (2020, February
19). Retrieved July 14, 2020, from
https://carpenternaturecenter.org/plan-yourvisit/
meet-our-animals/

Life History of Hartman Reserve’s
Corn Snake
Hartman Reserve Nature Center’s Corn Snake, Jules,
was donated by a private family in October of 2019.
They were unable to continue to care for the snake due
to its growing size. Jules is very healthy and will likely
be a part of Hartman Reserve’s family for a long time.


SCIENTIFIC NAME:  PANTHEROPHIS GUTTATUS