Corn snakes' preferred diet consists primarily of small mammals, particularly rodents. In the wild, they commonly feed on mice, rats, and other small rodents suitable for their size. Studies on the feeding habits of corn snakes suggest that they play a crucial role in controlling rodent populations.
Corn snakes are opportunistic feeders, meaning they will eat a variety of prey when available. Apart from rodents, they may consume unguarded bird eggs, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
The Corn Snake has a distinctive reddish-orange, brown, and gray pattern resembling kernels of Indian maize. Likewise, black-bordered red splotches on their back and sides contrast sharply against their vibrant colors.
These types of snakes are skilled climbers who often explore the treetops, though they prefer the ground as their natural habitat. They also help balance the ecosystem by controlling potential rodent problems.
Corn Snakes become less active during winter but do not enter a complete dormancy like certain snake species. Like most snake species, they emerge at night but can appear unexpectedly during the daytime if the temperature is cool enough.
The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is a large venomous snake native to the southeastern region of the United States.
It can grow up to 8 feet long and has a unique zigzagging diamond pattern in bright yellows and earth tones on its back. This colorful pattern warns other animals of its lethal venom. Its dark skin allows it to blend in with fallen leaves and shadows.
The Eastern Diamondback lives in various habitats, from North Carolina to Louisiana, from pine-clad flatwoods coastal scrub habitats to barrier islands.
Despite their menacing appearance, they are not typically aggressive. Besides its prey, the Eastern Diamondback only attacks other animals when the snake feels threatened. Its venom paralyzes its victims and aids in digestion.
Before biting, the snake will shake its rattle, made from the same keratin found in hair and nails, to warn intruders.
Read more: Rattlesnake Facts, Types of Rattlesnake.
Garter snakes live in North America. To spot this type of snake, look for the stripes along its body, resembling the garters used to hold up stockings.
Moreover, there are approximately 35 different species of garter snakes3, each with its distinct colors and patterns. No two garter snakes are exactly alike.
The harmless garter snakes are moderately sized, ranging from 23 to 30 inches. They live in various landscapes, such as woodlands, meadows, marshlands, and urban areas, where they feed on earthworms, slugs, frogs, fish, and small mammals.
While they pose no danger, a few species of garter snakes produce neurotoxin, which is exceptionally mild.
Unlike most snakes, garter snakes are active during the day and can withstand cold temperatures.
The King Snake lives in North America. Its distinct bands of red, white, and black help it blend in with the shadows and light of the forests and desert.
Surprisingly, the King Snake is not venomous. But, it should not be underestimated.
The King Snake feeds on other snakes; their immunity to venom allows them to eat rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths. During feeding, it chokes the life out of its prey.
The Milk Snake is a brightly colored species in various landscapes across North and South America. Its distinctive red, white, and black bands often lead to confusion with the venomous Coral Snakes.
Unlike Coral Snakes, Milk Snakes are harmless snakes. These nonvenomous snakes have red and black bands.
The Milk Snake is nocturnal, tending to hide in burrows and shadows during the day. It emerges at night to hunt suffocating prey like rodents, birds, reptiles, and eggs.
This diverse diet, combined with the Milk Snake's adeptness at hiding, allows it to thrive in various environments, including dense forests, open fields, and arid deserts.
Milk Snakes can also vibrate their rattles when threatened. However, we must remember that these snakes are generally peaceful and prefer avoiding humans.
Belonging to the Elapidae family, the coral snake is known for its iconic red, yellow/white, and black banding pattern, which serves as a visual warning to potential predators about its deadly venom.
Coral snakes represent a significant collection of snake species split into two main groups: the Old World coral snakes, found primarily in Asia, and the New World coral snakes, found across the Americas.
In North America, coral snakes are known for their potent neurotoxic snake venom, which targets the nervous system and can result in severe symptoms if not treated promptly. Despite their small size, both the Eastern and Arizona coral snake species, two of the most commonly found coral snake species in America, carry a highly effective venom, yet are rarely a problem for humans, whom they tend to avoid.
Furthermore, these snakes exhibit a fascinating behavior known as "shy biting," where they often hold onto their prey after biting instead of striking and releasing.
Snake eels or worm eels look like snakes with long bodies and a scaled texture. They range in color from brown to bright hues and often have patterns serving as camouflage. They live in marine, brackish, and sometimes freshwater environments and spend most of the day burrowed in sand or mud.
This type of eel has a forward escape technique—they disappear by moving forward, not backward, into the sand. Additionally, their hard, pointed tails are uniquely adapted for burrowing. These traits showcase the fascinating adaptability of life underwater.
A python (top) and rattlesnake illustrating the positions of the pit organs. Arrows pointing to the pit organs are red; a black arrow points to the nostril.
The ability to sense infrared thermal radiation evolved independently in three different groups of snakes, consisting of the families of Boidae (boas), Pythonidae (pythons), and the subfamily Crotalinae (pit vipers). What is commonly called a pit organ allows these animals to essentially "see" radiant heat at wavelengths between 5 and 30 μm. The more advanced infrared sense of pit vipers allows these animals to strike prey accurately even in the absence of light, and detect warm objects from several meters away. It was previously thought that the organs evolved primarily as prey detectors, but recent evidence suggests that it may also be used in thermoregulation and predator detection, making it a more general-purpose sensory organ than was supposed.
World Snake Day raises awareness about snakes' complex and essential function in nature. They are responsible for controlling rodent and pest populations, which helps prevent crop damage and the spread of diseases. Many snakes are also the food source of other snakes, mammals, and birds of prey.
Because of their role in maintaining ecological balance, the snakes' presence indicates a healthy environment. Even though snakes live almost anywhere, they face habitat loss. The driving forces are rapid urbanization, deforestation, and human encroachment. Additionally, fear and misconceptions about snakes contribute to unnecessary killings.
In addition to dispelling myths, World Snake Day also illuminates the global snakebite crisis, particularly in rural parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Limited access to antivenom treatments and medical facilities poses a serious public health issue. This day advocates for improved healthcare measures and raises awareness among communities near snake habitats.
