You’re walking through the high grass near a bayou in St. Tammany Parish, or maybe just clearing out some old plywood in your backyard in Lafayette, and you see it. A flash of black and yellow. It’s sleek. It’s moving with a kind of purpose that most snakes don't seem to have. Most people freeze. They think "coral snake" or "copperhead" and reach for a shovel. But if you’re looking at one of the several species of king snakes of Louisiana, you’re actually looking at the best free pest control money can't buy.
Honestly, these guys are the heavyweights of the swamp.
King snakes are famous for one specific, slightly terrifying trait: they eat other snakes. And not just the harmless ones. We’re talking about a snake that actively hunts and consumes venomous pit vipers like cottonmouths and rattlesnakes. They’re immune to the venom. It’s basically their superpower. But in Louisiana, identifying them isn't always as simple as a textbook makes it look. Between the Speckled King Snake, the Eastern King Snake, and the occasional Prairie King, the variations in patterns can get pretty wild depending on which parish you're standing in.
The Speckled King Snake: Louisiana’s "Salt and Pepper" Resident
The most common variety you’ll run into across the state is the Speckled King Snake (Lampropeltis holbrooki). Locals often call them "salt and pepper snakes."
It’s a fitting name.
Imagine a jet-black body where almost every single scale has a small, creamy yellow or white spot right in the center. From a distance, the snake looks greenish or grey. Up close, it’s a mosaic. These snakes are thick-bodied and can grow up to four or five feet long, though most you’ll see are in the three-foot range.
They love moisture. You'll find them in brush piles, near barn foundations, and especially along the edges of swamps and marshes. They are incredibly secretive. You might live on a five-acre lot for ten years and only see one once, despite dozens of them living right under your nose. They spend a huge amount of time "sub-surface," which is just a fancy way of saying they crawl through rodent burrows and under leaf litter.
Why They Are the "Kings"
The name "King Snake" isn't just a cool title. It’s a taxonomic nod to their dominance. In the herpetology world, members of the genus Lampropeltis are ophiophagous.
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That's the scientific term for snake-eaters.
If a Speckled King Snake crosses paths with a Copperhead, the Copperhead is in trouble. The King Snake uses constriction. It wraps its body around the prey with a force that is, pound-for-pound, much higher than that of a Python or a Boa Constrictor. Studies, including those by Dr. David Penning at Missouri Southern State University, have shown that king snakes have some of the highest constriction pressures ever recorded. They literally squeeze the heart of their prey to a standstill in seconds.
Spotting the Difference: King Snakes vs. The Dangerous Lookalikes
This is where things get dicey for the average homeowner. Louisiana is home to the Eastern Coral Snake. It’s rare, but it’s there. Both snakes can have bands of red, yellow, and black.
The old rhyme—"Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, friend of Jack"—is actually pretty reliable in the United States, but it’s not foolproof because nature likes to throw curveballs like aberrant patterns or "melanistic" (all black) individuals. However, for most king snakes of Louisiana, especially the Scarlet King Snake, the red bands touch the black bands.
But here is the real kicker.
Most people don't mistake King Snakes for Coral Snakes. They mistake them for Cottonmouths (Water Moccasins).
When a Speckled King Snake is threatened, it vibrates its tail. If it’s sitting in dry leaves, that vibration sounds exactly like a rattlesnake. It’ll also flatten its head to look wider and more "triangular," mimicking the look of a venomous pit viper. It’s a bluff. A total act. But it’s an act that gets a lot of harmless snakes killed by scared humans.
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- King Snake Pupil: Round. Like a human.
- Pit Viper Pupil: Vertical slit. Like a cat.
- King Snake Head: Oval and narrow, usually blending right into the neck.
- Pit Viper Head: Distinctly chunky and arrow-shaped with heat-sensing pits between the eye and nostril.
Habitat and Behavior: Where They Hide in the Bayou State
Louisiana's geography is basically a King Snake buffet. From the piney woods of the North to the alluvial plains of the Delta, there's always something for them to eat.
They aren't picky.
While they love snakes, they actually eat a lot of rodents. This makes them a massive asset to farmers. A single large King Snake can keep a barn relatively clear of rats and mice throughout the summer. They also go after lizard eggs, bird eggs, and even small turtles if they can get them.
During the heat of July and August in Louisiana, these snakes go almost entirely nocturnal. The humidity is high, the air is thick, and the rodents are active at night. If you’re out with a flashlight in the Atchafalaya Basin, you’re far more likely to see one then than at noon. In the spring, they are "diurnal," meaning they’re out and about during the day soaking up the sun to get their metabolism moving after the winter "brumation" (the reptile version of hibernation).
The Decline of the King?
There is some concern among herpetologists about the population of king snakes of Louisiana. While they aren't currently listed as endangered, sightings in certain parts of the state have dropped over the last few decades.
Why?
- Habitat Fragmentation: New subdivisions in places like Ascension or Livingston Parish replace the brushy "edge" habitats these snakes need.
- Invasive Species: Fire ants are a massive problem. They attack the nests of king snakes and eat the hatchlings before they can even crawl away.
- Road Mortality: Because they move between wetlands and upland areas, they often end up as roadkill on our rural highways.
Dr. Van Wallach, a noted researcher in the field, has often pointed out that snakes are "indicator species." When the King Snakes start disappearing, it usually means something is wrong with the local ecosystem's balance.
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What to Do If You See One
First, don't panic.
If you find a King Snake in your yard, consider yourself lucky. You’ve just been gifted a high-end security system that works for free. If you have kids or pets and you’re worried, the best thing you can do is just leave it alone. The snake wants nothing to do with you. It will move on once it’s finished hunting the area.
If you absolutely must move it, don't use a shovel. Use a long-handled broom to gently nudge it into a tall kitchen trash can tipped on its side. Once it’s in, stand the can up, put a lid on it, and transport it to the nearest wooded area or creek bank.
But honestly? Just let it be.
Actionable Steps for Louisiana Homeowners
If you want to keep your property "snake friendly" (or at least manage the population safely), follow these steps:
- Clean up the debris: Snakes love "tin flipping." Old sheets of metal, plywood, and log piles are Five-Star hotels for King Snakes. If you don't want snakes, get rid of the cover.
- Identify before you act: Before you assume a snake is a Cottonmouth, look for the spots. If it looks like it was sprinkled with yellow glitter, it’s a Speckled King Snake.
- Maintain your lawn: Short grass makes snakes feel vulnerable to hawks and owls, so they’ll naturally avoid crossing it.
- Support local conservation: Organizations like the Louisiana Wildlife Federation work to protect the wetlands that serve as the primary breeding grounds for these essential predators.
Louisiana wouldn't be the same without its wild spaces. The king snakes of Louisiana are a vital part of that identity. They are the silent guardians of the marsh, keeping the balance between the predators and the prey. Next time you see that flash of black and yellow, take a second to appreciate the "King" before it disappears back into the shadows of the palmettos.
To help maintain a healthy ecosystem in your own backyard, start by reducing the use of heavy pesticides, which kill the insects that feed the lizards and rodents that King Snakes rely on. Creating a small "wild corner" at the edge of your property can provide a safe corridor for these snakes to pass through, ensuring they continue their role as nature’s most effective pest controllers without ever needing to enter your immediate living space.