Activity Ranges and Habitat Use of Lampropeltis getula getula (Eastern Kingsnakes)

Abstract

Abstract The habitat use and activity range of Lampropeltis getula getula (Eastern Kingsnake) in the New Jersey Pine Barrens were studied from 1996–1998. Five male and four non-gravid female Eastern Kingsnakes were routinely radiotracked during daylight hours during one or two active seasons. Habitat and climatic conditions at snake locations were characterized using 9 climatic and 14 structural habitat features. Multivariate statistical comparisons with randomly selected locations indicated that Eastern Kingsnakes use available habitat in a non-random fashion with respect to microhabitat features (Wilks' lambda = 0.511; df = 28, 1066; P < 0.01). Eastern Kingsnakes preferred sites with thick leaf litter and dense shrub-layer foliage. They used a broad range of macrohabitats that spanned both wetland and pine-dominated upland areas. Moist areas were used for hibernation. Snakes exhibited a largely fossorial lifestyle, spending a great proportion of their time concealed under the cover of soil and/or leaf l...