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The
King Snake is named for a number of species of the egg-laying,
constricting snakes of North America which show much variation
in color and markings. The common king snake, or chain snake
of the Eastern United States is usually about 3 to 5 ft long
and black or brown with yellow and white rings or bands that
form a chainlike pattern. It eats rodents, birds, and snakes
and is usually active at dawn and dusk. It is immune to the
venom of the rattlesnake and the copperhead, which it kills
by constriction. King snakes are valuable destroyers of rodents.
These snakes do reach fairly large sizes, with some specimens
reaching 6-7 feet in length and live for up to 21 years.
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