Need to keep copperheads out of your KY yard? You want this harmless snake instead
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Copperhead snakes peak in late summer as juveniles disperse to find shelter.
- Eastern black kingsnakes prey on venomous snakes and resist their toxins.
- Kingsnake presence may reduce copperhead populations in suitable Kentucky habitats.
Late summer and early fall is copperhead season in Kentucky, when mothers give birth to litters of eight to 10 babies, all of which must immediately strike out on their own and survive the coming winter.
Copperheads are the most commonly encountered venomous snake in Kentucky, and soon they will be out and about, wiggling their yellow tail tips to lure small frogs with what looks like a tasty caterpillar.
If your backyard is home to chipmunks or squirrels, and it has places to shelter, it could be an attractive spot for a young copperhead looking to get established. Luckily, there’s another common snake copperheads fear. It’s also non-venomous and generally harmless to humans, provided it’s not picked up or otherwise mistreated.
Here’s what to know about the eastern black kingsnake (lampropeltis nigra), and why you want it near your Kentucky yard.
How do black kingsnakes kill copperheads?
Black kingsnakes regularly hunt and eat many types of Kentucky snakes, including venomous ones. Because of a feature of their biology, they are largely resistant to pit viper venom.
Steven Price, a University of Kentucky professor and herpetologist, notes kingsnake blood has venom-neutralizing properties. As a result, they aren’t intimidated by Kentucky’s venomous snake species.
“They’re protected from venomous snakes that they’ve kind of co-evolved with over long evolutionary times,” Price said. “It seems that they are resistant to venoms from copperheads and cottonmouths and rattlesnakes … the pit vipers we have here in North America.”
The eastern black kingsnake is a beautiful animal with dark scales that seem to catch the light. Its belly has a white checkered pattern. The snake’s head, which is not distinct from its body, can have small yellowish spots that trace down its back.
Eastern black kingsnakes can grow to be nearly 4 feet in length.
Common throughout most of Kentucky, you won’t find them in the northern part of the state. They can also be rare in parts of Eastern Kentucky. Its preferred habitat is forests, agricultural lands, wetland edges and even some suburban areas.
Price notes some studies suggest copperheads are less common in areas with abundant kingsnake populations.
“Even people that don’t like snakes tend to like king snakes,” Price said.
So if you happen to find one near your backyard this fall when copperheads and snakes in general are more active due to the cooler temperatures, know that it could be doing you a favor.
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