Specked King Snake..

[starling shooter]

Anyone ever hear of King Snakes preying on bluebird/tree swallows/PMs??

Just had one in the yard. Let it disappear in a hole

All I've ever seen/heard of is rat snakes.

[MamaBruff]

Starling Shooter,
I hope you have adequate predator guards and snake netting already in place.... I had one get a nest of (almost to fledge) house wrens many years ago. According to Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsnake this snake DOES eat birds and eggs! YUP!! But it also eats other snakes... Also, I found this from Kingsnake.com "Adults feed mainly on mice and rats; snakes (both venomous and nonvenomous) will be consumed. Since kingsnakes are partially immune to the venom of native snakes, rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and coral snakes make up a portion of the diet. Watersnakes make up a substaintial part of their diet. Other Speckled Kingsnakes also are consumed. Birds and their eggs are also readily consumed. An occasional fish may be eaten." Oh Joy and Terror.

[starling shooter]

thanks for the reply...

just wonder if they can climb a pole...

With all the predators, weather, parasites,....wonder any make it in the real world.

[Louise Chambers]

I have never read about king snakes raiding nest boxes, it's always rat snakes. And they are well known for dining on rattlesnakes on occasion - that's a good snake to have around. We all need pole guards anyway, raccoons & snakes are... everywhere? Almost everywhere - MN landlords, and some WI landlords, do not have to worry about rat snakes.

[KathyF]

After reading about our "prairie king snakes" here in Missouri, I am absolutely in love with them.
Except for the fact that they very closely resemble a copperhead - you have to look closely at the patterns - and I'm just not brave enough to "look closely". Usually, when I spot one, I do a really quick 1/4 mile sprint in like, 4 secs.

And I pretty much take the view that, "protect the pole against all possible predators". I have learned to "never say never" when it comes to predators and nest site competitors. Apparently, the "rules" are meant to be broken.

[~Ray~Gingerich]

After reading about our "prairie king snakes" here in Missouri, I am absolutely in love with them.
Except for the fact that they very closely resemble a copperhead - you have to look closely at the patterns - and I'm just not brave enough to "look closely". Usually, when I spot one, I do a really quick 1/4 mile sprint in like, 4 secs.

And I pretty much take the view that, "protect the pole against all possible predators". I have learned to "never say never" when it comes to predators and nest site competitors. Apparently, the "rules" are meant to be broken.

You should enter the Olympics you come back with gold everytime. LOL

[KathyF]

Ray,

[akp]

Their diet is primarily other reptiles. Cool snakes.