Harmless · North Carolina
Eastern Kingsnake
Lampropeltis getula
Glossy black snake with pale chain-like markings.
At a glance
Size
Usually 36-48 inches.
North Carolina range
Piedmont, Coastal Plain
Habitat
woods, fields, wetland edges
Diet
Snakes, including venomous species, plus lizards, rodents, birds, and eggs.
Pattern
chain bands
Venomous
No
How to identify it
Glossy black snake marked with pale yellow or white chain-like bands.
Where to look in North Carolina
Occurs mainly in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
Woodlands, fields, wetland edges, farms, and disturbed areas.
Regional maps show broad physiographic provinces, not county-level records.
Photo guide
Use the gallery to check pattern, body shape, and context—not just overall color.
