> In the wild, rat snakes go after eggs and baby birds. More than
> one has been caught in the act of raiding my pigeon cages over
> the years. Few get this sort of thing in captivity. Does this
> make a difference?

I have no way to test this, but some species of kingsnakes (mountain kings, gray-banded) often have to be "tricked" into taking rodents as young.

There are two reasons I suspect may be responsible for this:

1) Size - the young are small enough that raiding a rodent nest is more likely to result in the death of the snake from momma mouse. When they get bigger, that isn't an issue.

2) Dietary Requirement - perhaps there is a need for consumption of baby lizards that we don't know about, and it really would be better off nutrition wise to let them take baby lizards for their first few meals.

I don't think the first reason can be scientifically tested for.
The second possibly could be tested for, but we would have to know what to look for.

-=-

It just stands to me that there must be a reason why these snakes often reject a food source, darwin would suggest that they wouldn't reject a food source unless it gave them an advantage.
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3.0 WC; 0.1 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 CB L. pyromelana pyromelana
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

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