Notes and Observations on the Corn Snake in Kentucky

Text and photos by Phil Peak

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The ensuing months were anything but idle for us. Through the winter we were doing additional research in the area for both corn snakes and the northern pine snake. Many a cold winter day we spent going up and down roads looking for potential herping sites that we may have missed earlier in the year when the foliage was still thick. In addition we spent time with John MacGregor who helped us immensely in getting a better grasp of what was known of the corn snake range in KY. He provided us with possibilities that we didn't even know existed. Also our friends at Touchstone energy were very helpful in putting us in contact with a conservation minded land owner that was receptive to us doing field research on his property. With our previously acquired data, and these new sources of information we were excited to set off in 2003 and see what we could learn.
It didn't take long before we had our first significant break through. On March 30 with the temperature in the low 40's and a stiff breeze we pulled over to investigate a road side trash pile. There active and on the crawl was a corn snake. This snake would prove to be an early emergence record for corn snakes in KY. And so the year went! In all, we found over 40 live corn snakes and a dozen DORs (Dead On Road). We closed out the year by finding an active corn snake on November 23. To our knowledge, this would probably qualify as a last appearance in the year for corns in KY.
So in summary, what did we learn? Many things. One thing that interested us immediately was some of the differences in blotch count on our corns compared to corns found in Florida for example. Studying a large series of corns from more southern locales it is evident that they have a higher series of dorsal blotches than do ours. The typical corn snake from that region appears to average somewhere between 38-45, where as ours averages 31, with a variance from 25 to 34. Interestingly, the vast majority have either 31 or 32. These counts are from the nape to the vent. There is considerable variation in color with our corns with most having reddish blotches on a brownish orange body. Some individuals exhibit orange blotches, and some specimens have a charcoal wash throughout.
KY corns seem stouter of build overall compared with other corn populations from further south. It is possible that our population tends to feed preferentially on the abundant rodents that occur in their habitat, whereas maybe the more southern corns feed on the less nutritious diet of tree frogs and lizards. Or could this be genetic? There is yet more to be learned in this area. Another characteristic of the KY corn is the tendency for the fore part of the body (about a third of the length) to be considerably lighter in color than the rest which is noticeably darker.
The average length of adult corns in our state is about a yard in length. We have seen a few that were considerably larger with the upper limit at this point being a very robust 4.5' in length. We are curious to see if any surface that are still larger.

Most of the corns that we found were under sheltering objects on the ground. We have yet to see one in an arboreal situation. We have found them active in every month from March through November. Thus far, we have seen them in four KY counties, Hart, Edmonson, Hardin, and Grayson.

Based on four clutches of eggs that were hatched out we have seen a variance of 9 to 13 eggs. Clutch sizes were as follows, 9,12,10 and 13. This data includes a gravid female that was collected this year and released along with her offspring afterward. She was collected temporarily to add more data to this group.
The relatively low clutch size seems to correspond with northern populations of corn snakes from the available information. Pantherophis researcher and enthusiast Bill Reynolds from the N.C. Museum of Natural History and Science pointed this out to me and confirmed that populations such as those found in northern Alabama had the same tendencies. So all of this brings us back to the habitat. What is it that enables this isolated population of corn snakes to exist? Why are they where they are and not in the adjoining areas? Why is it that in their compact range they are a very successful species and in fact, one of the dominant species of serpent in this area?
Some characteristics of this part of KY are very evident and clearly different than the surrounding areas both in geology and in the type of flora. One of these distinctions is the soil type. Over most of this area the soil is friable and often has a loamy character to it. Red colored soil is very common throughout their range.

Perhaps this has given them a competitive edge, and has provided a source  for cryptic camouflage to enable them to have a higher survival rate as compared to their competitors.

Also very evident is the rocky character of this region. There are so many large rocks and boulders strewn about that it is difficult for the local people to practice intensive agriculture. The result is an endless series of forest and hayfields. This light agriculture may even be advantageous in that it clears out areas and produced good habitat for rodent prey. It is quite possible that there are more corn snakes now in this region than in historic times. The forest themselves are decidedly mixed. Along with the hardwoods are numerous pine trees and cedar glades. This type of forest is the result of the soil types that are found there.
Another consideration is that this entire area is a karst region. Has this played some role either historically or even in the present to enable the corn snake to utilize this part of KY? Is this part of the equation? This I have no answer to. At this point we have learned a fair amount concerning the natural history of this beautiful and fascinating reptile in KY, but we also recognize that there are many questions yet to be learned.

Hopefully the coming years will provide us with some of these answers. A telemetry study of this species could prove to be very rewarding.

Overall, both Will and I are very happy at this point considering we went into this project with the distinct impression that the corn snake in KY was a rare and possibly non-existent life form. We have discovered that if nothing else, corn snakes in KY are very real and are apparently doing quite well.