Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula)

​Species Information

Recognized Subspecies in VA: None
Size: 32 - 60 inches
Range: Piedmont, Coastal Plain, and northern Blue Ridge 
Status: Least Concern

I have yet to find a herper that does not love this species. Eastern Kingsnakes are beautiful snakes with traits that are borderline superpowers. Pound-for-pound, these are the strongest constrictors (any snake that constricts its prey) on the planet. Why? Well, constriction happens different than what you may think, as the snake is not cutting-off the air ways, but rather stopping blood-flow causing cardiac arrest. This is a snake that has evolved to eat other snakes, hence the name "Kingsnake". If you are a snake trying to use constriction on another snake, this gets pretty complicated, as wrapping around another snake is a good way to make a braid... So, if you are a snake and you have to overpower other snakes, you kinda have to be pretty strong.  

Eastern Kingsnake constricting a Plain-bellied Watersnake from Orange Co., NC | © Suzanne Cadwell

These interactions are quite intense, as kingsnakes do their best to crush other snakes (as seen above). Another nifty adaptation for hunting other snakes is having resistances to snake venom. Many people will say that "kingsnakes are immune to pitviper venom" while others argue it is just a hyper advanced resistance... I don't want to get into the scamantic, as it really is an argument based of definitions, but these snakes are not afraid of a copperhead or rattlesnake bite... 

Speaking of bites, this snake is truly nonvenomous and welcomed around dwellings by many people. These snakes not only eat snakes, but other lizards (snakes are lizards sorry...), small mammals, fledgling birds, eggs, amphibians, and even baby turtles. Pretty much, if it is a tetrapod that they can overpower, they will eat it. Often, bites on handlers are not defensive but in food response. Some specimens are incredibly food driven, and while handling, they will just decide you smell good, and they may try to eat your hand... unsuccessfully of course. Sometimes they will even try to eat themselves... This deters some folks from keeping these snakes, but they are quick learners, in my opinion, to being target trained. I only mention this, as even many bites from wild individuals are the same, lazy "I am just gonna try to eat you" bites. I am just warning you. :)

"Chessie", Ty's captive-bred "Virginia Beach Kingsnake" | © Ty Smith

A fun fact many people don't exactly know is that the pale yellow to white color you see on Eastern Kingsnakes is the base color. They have large, black saddles and blotches that often run together giving that "chain" appearance. If you find this species in the piedmont, you are very familiar with the "Chain Kingsnake". This is just a color/pattern phase from most of this snake's range. Once you get to the Virginia Beach area, you can find "Virginia Beach Kingsnakes". The snake pictured to the left is from my personal collection, and may be my favorite snake I keep. She is a third generation, captive bred animal, and she just has the greatest personality. 

Anyway, she does well to show the typical black-and-white pattern of these incredibly rare Virginia Beach specimens. Specimens around the Dismal Swamp area tend to be very inbetween. These are often referred to by keepers as "Chesapeake Kingsnakes", "Dismal Kingsnakes", or "Swamp Kingsnakes". Funny enough, even the Virginia Beach Kingsnake is just a step on the spectrum from "Chain Kingsnake" to "Outer Banks Kingsnakes". ​

The "Outer Banks Kingsnake" was once considered a subspecies, but is now widely accepted to just be a very cool color variant. It seems the closer you are to the color and pattern of sandy soil, the higher likelihood you can pass on your genes if you are two inches tall and live on sandy soil. Who knew!? All jokes aside, these Virginia Beach and Outer Banks snakes are increasingly rarer, as urbanization and increased traffic defames their habitats. Infact, many herpetologist are concerned for this species as a whole, with stiff opinions that they are not nearly as common as they once were. ​

"Outer Banks Kingsnake" | © Bobby Fingers

There are some studies that point to decline in these snakes across their range as well. To put it in perspective, I am a fairly knowledgeable herper, and despite this species always being in the forefront of my mind, I have never found more than four in a year in Virginia (only finding one or two every other year). Compare that to Mike Clifford's records (a fantastic herper and guy) from 1976 where over a four year period, he found 278 snakes and six were Eastern Kingsnakes. In other words, these snakes are and have been pretty secretive if not rare. Even if they are not in decline, we should still be concerned for them, as rare animals are easy to eradicate without many clues. There are also questions about correlations between Eastern Kingsnake populations declining, and Eastern Copperhead populations increasing. Despite this, this snake is not a species of concern for Virginia. 

Eastern Kingsnakes have smooth scales, and pretty distinct patterns. They typically live in meadow and forest clearings, rarely far from water. 

Similar Species: I sometimes see people confusing juvenile Central Ratsnakes with kingsnakes, but the white to yellow bands make Eastern Kingsnakes pretty distinct amongst Virginian Species. ​

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​Maps and External Sources

Known and Predicted Range

***iNaturalist maps show iNat reports of each species. Though maps are quite accurate, some reports could be misidentified, so be cautious of any outlying records.***

VHS Info

iNat Observations