Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For anyone who looks for/collects kingsnakes in the wild - Which kind is the easiest to find? I know some are more numerous or more secretive than others. Thanks!

Black kings can be very easy to find, especially in Kentucky. I have read reports indicating that Eastern and Eastern X Florida intergrades are common as well. Here's a photo of a Cal king I caught while road hunting in Las Vegas last summer.

Tim

Third Eye

< "Black kings can be very easy to find, especially in Kentucky." >

Just curious what you base this on. Have you found black kingsnakes in Ky? Thanks, Phil

That is an incredible looking snake. Do they normally have those markings on their face? Thanks for sharing. Derek

I would consider the facial markings to be pretty much typical on that particular snake. Here's a pic of a hatchling for comparison. At this size they are heavily marked throughout but most of this is gone by adulthood. Glad you liked! Phil

Official Black Kingsnake website

Phil, you have noone to blame but yourself for this madness!!
you guys make it look easy!

LOL!!

I'm just kidding man, I know you guys put a ton of hard work into maintaining your sites etc, and I have learned a lot from you - thanx.

Later

Matt

Thanks for the kind words Matt. I only know for sure what I'm familiar with but my guess would be there are three major factors which need to come together for any species to be an easy find. Respectable population density, a knowledge of when, where and how to look, and a willingness to get out and put forth the effort. I'm just glad its so much fun to do. Otherwise it would seem too much like work! Phil

Amen to that Phil. I've seen some of the photos on the KHS website of you, Will, Brian, and the others putting fourth the hard work & effort laying down artificial cover in Jefferson co. as well as other localities. Lots of hard work from you guys that will no doubt pay off down the road.

Steve

>>Thanks for the kind words Matt. I only know for sure what I'm familiar with but my guess would be there are three major factors which need to come together for any species to be an easy find. Respectable population density, a knowledge of when, where and how to look, and a willingness to get out and put forth the effort. I'm just glad its so much fun to do. Otherwise it would seem too much like work! Phil

We have a great bunch of guys down here and manage to have a lot of fun. I can't wait to see how this latest project turns out. In all we laid nearly 200 pieces of prime AC at around a dozen sites in great habitat. I expect we'll see a lot of kingsnakes for one at these sites and I'll be sure to post some pics.

Beautiful calligaster btw. I really like those snakes. Phil
Snake Hunting in Kentucky

Peak has a great site...you'll love the slide show function if you like snakes in the field.

Yes, I have found them every time I've herped in KY.
I live on Ohio, where black kings are rare.

Tim

I think we are very fortunate to have good numbers of kingsnakes here. Thanks for the follow up. Phil

There are a few species that are "easy" to find. This means is you go to the correct habitat at the correct time of year and hunt the correct way, you can find several examples (over 10 of some subspecies). This would be true for
- California Kings
- Speckled Kings
- Florida (intergrade) Kings
- Eastern Black Kings (if you go to one of Phil's sites - LOL)
- Desert Kings

Then there are the species that you should be able to find at least one in a good locality at the right time of year -
- Eastern Kings (these used to be in the first category, but appear to be declining?)
- Prairie Kings (these may belong in the first list)

Then there are the snakes you can look for for years without seeing one! These would include
- South Florida Kings
- Appalachicola Kings
- Mexican Black Kings (I don't know about in Mexico, however)
- Mole Kings (maybe a category two snake?)

Anybody disagree?
-----
Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

I think thats a good summary Chris. In some instances I have no first hand experience (Cal kings for one), but based upon what I have heard from others that have spent time in the field within their range they seem to be fairly common find in the right places. The most prairie kings we have seen in a day has been five though we have seen three or so fairly often. Twelve is the most black kings we have seen during the course of one day but we have seen a half dozen or more many times. I do think eastern kings can be seen in numbers in parts of their range especially in Ga. I have limited experience there but they seemed fairly easy to come by at the time. I would guess the south Florida mole king would have to be on the list of really tough finds. Phil

I can only speak to the eastern kings and mole kings in North Carolina, but I would say you've made a good assessment. I live in the area between the foothills and the western piedmont of NC, but I've herped much of the state...growing up near the Haw River, which later empties into the Cape Fear in the eastern part of the state. I will say that eastern kings are more common in the eastern piedmont and coastal plain and pretty rare in the foothills and mountains of NC. I've had days where I found 3 in one day, on the crawl, in appropriate habitat down east. Contrast that to the foothills, I usually find 2-3 per year, that is with tin sites set up with eastern kings specifically in mind and checking at least 1-2 times per week. Mole kings are a little more common...if you count dor's, I may see maybe 5 per year out here...before I knew the specifics of finding mole kings, I spent 20 years in the field and never found one on my own. They are very secretive and only active, for the most part, on the surface in May and September out here. Eastern Kings seem to show up any time between April and October.

Nice topic guys.

Michael

Michael, just some friendly advice. I would never check tin sites with that frequency meaning once or twice per week. I would not be surprised at all that you are finding so few kings. Transient species like racers and garter snakes can withstand that type of disturbance but most snakes will not. Whether the snake is under the tin when you flip it or not there are other things to consider such as moisture seal, scent and other factors that we may not pick up on. We have found checking once every three weeks or so gives us much better results not only for kings but for corn snakes, coppers, horridus etc.. Phil

Awesome Phil...I never thought of that...very good point though, because I find dozens of racers and black rats each year, with quite a few garters...but very few kings. I will make an effort to cut back on how often I check my sites this year and follow up on here with my progress. I appreciate your advice. I have really learned a lot from reading your posts the past couple of years.

Another A/C related question...how do you manage to get your A/C out to sites that are off the beaten path and unable to reach by truck? I have found a few killer spots, but they are both about a half mile from the nearest vehicle access. I'm thinking about packing in some black plastic and cutting it into 4x4 sheets, then weighing it down with rocks and logs. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Michael

Michael, that does present a dilemna. Most of the sites that we develop are behind locked gates either on park property or on private property. From there we try to select areas in which Will's four wheel drive will travel and that at the same time look to be good places to lay cover. We generally choose edge habitat such as where the field meets the woodline. Nearby water features are usually a plus too. Only on very rare occasions do we drag large AC long distances. When we do its usually just a piece or two that we position on a rocky hillside with a southern exposure for timbers. Kingsnakes are for the most part found in the more open areas so this usually doesn't present too much of a problem. I have found a number of snakes under tarp. The black really attracts the heat on cool sunny days and of course the snakes like that. I like the heavier material best. It seems the snakes feel more secure under something that has some weight to it. I have done well finding snakes under such odd ball stuff like water bed mattresses, pool liners and conveyor belts too. Roofing tin and boards are my favorites but all this other stuff (as well as carpet) has its time and place where it can be very effective. I think checking your sites less often will give you much better results over all. We are always developing new sites so we can "rest" some while we check others. This gives us a nice rotation and actually more stuff than we can possibly search under in the time we have. We are especially excited when we go to check prime cover that has not been flipped in a few weeks, and we are usually rewarded with some nice finds. Glad you have found some of my info useful, and hope you have a great year in the field. Look forward to seeing some of your finds! Phil

I have heard that at the right time of year Zonata are dangerously easy to collect. I have never been out in their range but I understand that it takes a lot of morals to not get a bag full. Same can apply to the eastern kings and Florida kings in my opinion. Don't get me wrong I do collect, but I take my target species on a planned trip that cost me usually over a thousand dollars and a whole bunch of planning. It would be way cheaper and easier to buy the snakes I want but I think there is something to say about having definite local data because you collected the animal. It is often said on here that most people can not be 100% about the origins of most of their collections. I have a a handful of animals that I am sure about. Plus there is a lot to be said about seeing the habitat that your animal comes from first hand. It can be a real eye opener. Truth be told I am at the point that I only want one or two more WC animals anyway but I think I will be going to far away lands long after my collection is complete.

Later Jason

Jason, you bring up some great points that I agree with. To me, seeing the snakes in their natural habitat really brings the experience all together and on some level provides a better insight on what the snakes themselves are and how they fit into the natural world. Locality is important to some and not important to others. To me its paramount. I don't think this makes me better or worse than anyone else, its just where my interest is. I would never consider keeping a snake that was not locale specific. By most standards I maintain a fairly small collection but every snake I have I have either collected myself or acquired from trusted friends that put similar emphasis on locality. And your right. Collecting your own can be very expensive. A so called $20 snake can become a snake that ultimitely costs hundreds of dollars once the time and expenses are factored in. But the memories that go with it are priceless! Phil

Official Black Kingsnake website

Totally agree, w.c. is the only sure method of knowing and the out in the field experience is the best part. If you have a knowledgeable friend to share it with it is doubly so and makes it that much more reliable.
Todd Hughes

But there are some awesome c.b.'s out there!