Prairie Kingsnake (aka Yellow-bellied Kingsnake) (Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster)

Note: The iNat scientific name for Prairie Kingsnake is automatically taken to the subspecies level (as indicated) and thus the subspecies entry for this observation.

23 April 2014: We walked the perimeter trail at the North Lakes Park in Denton, Texas, and we encountered a juvenile specimen of the Prairie Kingsnake (aka Yellow-bellied Kingsnake) (Lampropeltis calligaster). This particular example of the species was at most 10 inches in length. We managed to photograph it but did not otherwise attempt to capture it which could have been done quite easily. This is a native non-venomous snake whose range occurs entirely within the eastern half of the United States. Prairie Kingsnake’s most southern and western range occurs in Texas. All of its range is permanent as this is not a snake that migrates even locally. Therefore there is a viable population of this snake species in and about the area of North Lakes Park. The North Texas region is entirely within the permanent range for Prairie Kingsnake. As indicated, its most southern and western range occurs in South Texas but does not reach the Río Grande (aka Río Bravo del Norte) in the Rio Grande Valley. Rather its range follows the Texas Gulf Coast. If one could draw a line from its southernmost range in Texas north through Central Texas and up into the northeast corner of the Texas Panhandle, then all of the state east of this line constitutes the range for Prairie Kingsnake in our state. Here’s an alphabetical list of all 19 states plus the District of Columbia where Prairie Kingsnake is found within the United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Prairie Kingsnake can grow to be between 24-46 inches long. It is a carnivore in its immature and adult stages and will prey on rodents, lizards, frogs, toads, and other snakes. Reportedly, while it may emit a foul smelling musk if captured or threatened, it will rarely bite if handled. Because of its entirely North American presence in the eastern half of the United States, Prairie Kingsnake is an authentic resident of the Western Hemisphere. North Lakes Park is administered by the City of Denton, Texas.

Source: “Lampropeltis calligaster - (Harlan, 1827) – Yellow-bellied Kingsnake,” NatureServe Explorer: An Online Encyclopedia of Life, range maps, description, references, resources, accessed 1.19.16, http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Lampropeltis+calligaster