Thanks for the insights Frank. I agree it was merely speculation on our part on why the king was doing what it did. One thing that got our attention was the manner in which the kingsnake reacted. It was less the actions of a disturbed snake that was looking for an escape route and more that of a snake that boldly crawled in our direction with a purpose and tongue flicking. It had the look of a snake that was hungry and was in attack mode. Of course this is only an interpretation also but thats what its body language suggested. It seemed to be so focused on the scent of the rat snake it didn't seem to notice us until we were only several feet apart. I have noticed an almost psychotic feeding response with wild caught kingsnakes that were in my care over the years when offered fresh DOR snakes or culls. I learned long ago while cleaning cages to never handle a corn or rat snake then reach in a kingsnakes cage. Interesting observation you made about the kings at your sites preferring to feed on prey items away from their refuge. Usually what we come across is rodents on the surface and active, in which case no snake is present or rodent burrows and a snake on the surface but no obvious fresh signs of rodent activity. It is very rare for us to find kings and other species of snakes under the same AC at the same time. That is one of the reason we like the very large pieces of AC so much. They afford all sorts of possibilities. Thanks once again, Phil

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