The Corn snake (Elaphe guttata), or Red rat snake, is a North American species of rat snake that subdue their small prey with constriction. The name "Corn snake" is a holdover from the days when southern farmers stored harvested ears of corn in a wood frame or log building called a crib. Rats and mice came to the corn crib to feed on the corn, and corn snakes came to feed on the rodents.
Ten Facts about Corn Snake
- Moderate adult size 3.9-5.9 feet (1.2-1.8 m).
- In the wild, they usually live around 15-20 years, but may live as long as 23 years in captivity.
- Wild corn snakes prefer habitats such as overgrown fields, forest openings, trees, palmetto flatwoods and abandoned or seldom-used buildings and farms, from sea level to as high as 6,000 feet.
- Corn snakes have a diet primarily consisting of rodents, mostly mice and rats.
- Corn snakes usually breed shortly after the winter cooling.
- Egg-laying occurs slightly more than a month after mating, with 12-24 eggs deposited into a warm, moist, hidden location.
- Corn snakes are usually strong, avid feeders and should be fed every 7-14 days.
- Corn snakes eat small rodents, birds, lizards, snakes, amphibians, and insects.
- Birds, other snakes, hawks are their enemies.
- Can live uo to 25-30 years.
