The eastern kingsnake is a shiny black snake with thin white or cream-colored bands. This reptile also is called the “chain snake” because the lines that stretch across its back are linked along the sides. The species’ typical length is 3-4 feet long, but the record is almost 7 feet.

Although the eastern kingsnake might look scary at first glance, it is harmless and very beneficial to have in your yard. The snake is resistant to pit-viper venom and readily eats copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlesnakes; hence, its title as “king” of all snakes. Killing non-venomous snakes, including the eastern kingsnake, is illegal in Georgia.

WILD Facts is a regular feature written by Linda May, a wildlife interpretive specialist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.