Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,

Does anyone have any pix of corn snakes in the wild?

I think that it would be interesting to see the actual environments where they live.

Once upon a time, circa 1990, I was camping at Fort Lauderdale, FLA. There were some decent herping areas in and near the campground, but it was Summer and hot as heck (which isn't good herping weather). We were driving down one of the campground roads when I implored that my driver, Bingo Bob, stop the car without delay! There, by the side of the road, was a gopher tortoise - the first one I'd ever seen. I intended to get some in situ shots of it, but as we approached the thing took off like a bat out of heck.

Bingo and I just looked at each other in dismay - we had no idea that tortoises could run. The creature made it's way into the wooods and was easy enough to track down, due to the fact that it made so much noise plowing through the undergrowth. After getting some photos of the tortoise, we returned to the car.

While at the car a peculiar sqeaking noise was heard coming from several feet away. Bingo asked "Do you hear that?"

"Yeah," I said as I got into the car.

Bob said the sound was like that of a rodent being constricted by a snake. "That's a pretty far fetched theory," I said to him.

To solve the mystery, we decided to investigate. And there, by the side of the road, was this corn snake constricting an adult rat that seemed too impossibly large for it to eat.

It was my first and only corn that I found in the wild. Let's face it, Bingo Bob is right sometimes.

T

PS - This was before digital cameras, so it's the best photo I have.

Third Eye

Wow Tim, your story sounds unbelievably similar to what also happened to a friend of mine(mid-late 80's) that was doing some fence work ALSO out west somewhere in Ft. Lauderdale(what are the odds?), and as he was working, heard a distinct squeeling noise coming from a nearby piece of corrugated tin. He lifted it up, and lo and behold, it was(again) a large adult cornsnake constricting a rat!

I wish he had a photo of it, but I don't think a camera was among the things he usually carried in his tool belt..LOL!

This is the same guy who sold me a nice Florida Kingsnake that he also caught out in the "sticks" out west of Ft.Lauderdale.

That happens to be where I grew up, after my family moved from Sarasota. I lived there from 1965(five years old) up until just about 7-8 years ago, and I agree, there were a lot of different snakes around those parts back in the day!.......what memories!

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

That's crazy, who knew?

I guess the answer to sheshanaga's question is that corns are found in situ in Ft. Lauderdale, often in close proximity of squeaking sounds.

It's a good thing that this forum is around to answer the questions of inquiring minds.

Tim

Haahhahaha!!!, that's too friggin' funny!

Love the way you used the "dork" in the TV commercials with the question mark suit!..LOL!

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"