Posted by:
Phil Peak
at Fri Sep 16 18:01:46 2005 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Phil Peak ]
Thanks Todd. I don't think your idea is so out there. You may have homed in on the right explanation. Thats all we can do is examine the facts at hand and make guesses. I was just throwing out a possibility based on my interpretation of why the snake may have acted the way it did. There seems to always be something interesting going on when we spend time in the field  It was unusual in the sense that we very seldom see kings cohabitating with other species. The large surface area covered by the two pieces of AC may have allowed this situation to occur. A couple of other factors to consider that I failed to mention. I believe the rat snake had cast its skin very shortly before it was discovered. The skin was still moist to the touch and pliable. The rat snakes senses may have been duller than usual before shedding but not afterward. Maybe it would have soon detected the potential danger and fled the area. Much like musk I would assume a snake shedding its skin would release lots of scent particles into the air yet apparently the king did not react to this activity. Maybe it was not feeding related? On the otherhand, maybe the sweet fragrence of rat snake musk was too much for the king to resist and this prompted him to action? I have successfully used corn and rat snake musk to scent pinks with for problem feeder hatchling kings. Hard to say but it does all make for interesting conversation! Good luck in Aransas Wildlife Refuge. Sounds like a great opportunity. Look forward to seeing some of those speckled kings! Thanks again for the input. Phil
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RE: Interesting behavior in kingsnake from the field last weekend... - Phil Peak, Fri Sep 16 18:01:46 2005