Hello Tom, here are a few observations I have made.



< has it ever been noted that the snakes were hanging in sexed pairs? >



We frequently see this in the early spring especially with kingsnakes. Quite often we will find a sexed pair under the same piece of artificial cover. We have seen this with other species such as corns, milk snakes and prairie kings as well.



< Your question on seeing snakes feeding during the colder months when it would not be expected >



We have not seen this in deep winter but we do see a number of snakes here each year late in the season such as in late Oct and into Nov that have recently fed on large meals. Rat snakes commonly and on occasion prairie kings, black kings, corn snakes and others. We have noted that generally the snakes seen in this condition fall within two catagories. Either a female snake that most likely had bred that season that may need to build up its metabolic reserves or an emaciated snake that clearly had an unsuccessful feeding season.



< Lastly has anyones guess ever been that a gravid snake found earlier than average possibly bred during the coldest part of the year >



I have field collected kingsnakes here in Ky as early as late March that proved to be gravid. I believe that kingsnakes here at least breed shortly after emerging for the year. Timber rattlesnakes here breed in late summer and give birth the following Sept.



Great series of questions Tom! Phil

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