Newspaper Page Text
July 13, 2022
4 Reporter
Page 3C
MONROE OUTDOORS by Terry W. Johnson
King snake wins life, death struggle on backroads of Monroe Co.
Leon and Pat Burns had the rare opportunity of observing an adult copperhead become
the prey of a kingsnake. (Photo/Leon Burns)
O ne of the most
exciting things
about venturing
into the wild is
we never know what we
will encounter. In
variably, whenever
we enter the natural
world we know we
will see a multitude
of things that will
perk our interest.
However, on a few
rare occasions, we
will witness some
thing that is so
unique, dramatic
or beautiful; it
is forever etched in our
memory.
Recently, Monroe
County residents Leon and
Pat Burns witnessed an
eastern (also known as the
common) kingsnake and a
copperhead entwined in a
deadly battle.
The Burnses live on a
plot of land in northern
Monroe County. They
share their property with
a wide variety of wildlife.
Recently on a morning
walk with their two dogs,
they rounded a bend in a
trail and spotted a 3-3.5-
foot eastern kingsnake
tightly wrapped around a
copperhead. Although the
copperhead was perhaps
just a bit shorter than the
kingsnake, it was much
bigger around.
It was obvious that the
copperhead was fighting
for its life. As much as it
tried to squirm free from
the kingsnake, the king
snake continued to apply
relentless pressure on its
victim. Leon and Pat were
amazed how tightly the
kingsnake was wrapped
around the copperhead.
After watching the
struggle for
about a half an
hour the couple
and their ca
nine compan
ions continued
on their way.
When they
returned some
three to three
and a half
W. JOHNSON hours later
the copper
head ap
peared to be dead. During
their absence the kingsnake
had pulled the copperhead
off the trail into the grass.
As they watched, the king
snake placed its head on
the copperheads seemingly
lifeless body and proceeded
to bite it in a number of
locations. This was done
several times. It appeared
to Leon that the snake was
trying to determine if the
copperhead was indeed
dead.
Later that evening at
tempts to locate the two
snakes failed.
During this marathon
struggle only once did the
kingsnake look up at them
and briefly open its mouth
and shake its tail. When the
rapidly vibrating tail struck
nearby dry leaves it created
a rattling sound.
Since Leon and his wife
did not see the kingsnake
capture the copperhead,
we will never know how
the kingsnake captured
it. However, using what
we know about kingsnake
behavior it is possible to
recreate what likely hap
pened. Here is what prob
ably occurred.
The kingsnake located
the copperhead by follow
ing its scent trail. When
the kingsnake found its
hapless prey it tried to grab
it just behind the head and
then tried to quickly wrap
itself around the snakes
body. Undoubtedly, the
copperhead tried to bite
the kingsnake numerous
times. The bites would
disable most other preda
tors. However, the eastern
kingsnake is apparently
immune to the venom of
copperheads, rattlesnakes
and cottonmouths.
While this was going on,
in an attempt to subdue its
large prey, the kingsnake
continued to exert pressure
on the copperhead. Herpe
tologists have found that a
kingsnake can exert 0.7 to
6 pounds of pressure on its
prey. In comparison, the
larger rat snake can apply a
maximum of only 0.4 to 3
pounds of force.
It has been popularly
believed that kingsnakes
squeeze their victims so
hard they crush their preys
bones and the animal
suffocates. However,
researchers at Louisiana
State University have
recently discovered that
death is the result of the
animals circulatory system
being constricted to the
point where blood can no
longer be pumped to the
brain. When this happens
death occurs in a matter of
seconds.
After the kingsnake killed
the copperhead it was
then faced with the task
of swallowing it whole. As
you might imagine this
also takes a considerable
amount of time. This is an
amazing feat in itself when
a kingsnake tries to swal
low a snake smaller than it
self let alone as large as the
copperhead it subdued. In
this instance, it most likely
simply folded the snake
and slowly swallowed it.
This procedure enables
a kingsnake to consume
a snake 20 percent larger
than itself.
After the kingsnake di
gests its meal it will resume
hunting again. Perhaps it
will capture another snake.
This would not be surpris
ing as the kingsnake is so
named because it eats both
venomous and nonvenom-
ous snakes (including other
kingsnakes). However, it
will also dine on rodents,
rabbits, lizards, birds and
their eggs and even turtle
eggs. Interestingly, king
snakes have been observed
tracking female turtles and
then eating the eggs they
bury.
To some people, there
is no such thing as a good
snake. For this reason, they
kill all snakes on sight.
Others share the opinion
good snakes are nonven-
omous and bad snakes
are venomous. Which are
you? If you stumble across
a kingsnake trying to kill
a copperhead, will you kill
both, just the copperhead,
or observe the drama like
Leon and Pat?
I hope you will simply
walk away with the memo
ry of witnessing a dramatic
life and death struggle.
Terry Johnson is retired
Program Manager of the
Georgia Nongame-Endan
gered Wildlife Program. He
has written the informative
column Monroe Outdoors’
for the Reporter for many
years. His book, “A Journey
to Discovery,” is available at
The Reporter. Email him at
tjwoodduck@bellsouth. net.
Monroe County Rec 12U softball teams
The GA Power were coached by Clay Corley. Team members are Isha Patel, Cayla
Corley, Sophie Willis, Serenity Dunn, Caroline Brooks, Alexis Stillwell, Laci Beeland, Emma
Kinnebrew, Gabriella Durden, Jordan Lucear and Lucy Smith.
Monroe County Rec
14U softball team
The Bomb Squad were coached by Justin Hickman: Lawson Pace, Payton Cauley, Breanna
Watts, Hannah Head, AnnaKate Arnold, Elanor McMenamy, Addison Hunter, Isabelle
Hickman, Caroline Hickman, Madison O’Neal, Heather Hulsey and Sarah Davis.
The Dawgs were coached by Daniel Fullmore: Brooklyn Long, Jarhya Jones, Olivia Full-
more, Kalli Holderfield, Kristina Coleman, Sara Saunders, Hannah Polk, Terri Flournoy,
Braislee Dickey and Lanie Fowler.
Investigator makes shoestring
tackle to stop kidnappers escape
A Forsyth man in the Monroe County
Jail for allegedly kidnapping his girlfriend
almost escaped on June 28 if not for a
“shoestring” tackle by Inv. Mark Hol
loway.
“Nick Saban wants to interview him,”
joked sheriffBrad Freeman about Hol
loways diving tackle. “He’s got two years
of eligibility left.”
According to the the sheriff’s office,
Jerry Davenport, 39, of Forsyth had just
completed an interview with Holloway in
interview room #2 around 4:20 p.m. and
was handcuffed to be escorted back to
the jail. When Holloway and Davenport
exited the room Davenport turned to
the left instead of right and began run
ning toward the exit door. Once outside,
Holloway tackled him to the ground.
Deputy Shania Hawkins was nearby in
the parking lot and rushed to assist as did
deputy Cody Maples and other deputies
who came out of the building and Dav
enport was quickly taken back inside and
secured in a cell.
Davenport already faces charges of
kidnapping, aggravated assault, and false
imprisonment for allegedly kidnapping
his girlfriend, Amy Worth, of Griffin
from a home on Towaliga Trail then drag
ging her through the woods on June 19.
Ten deputies, search dogs, drones and a
Georgia State Patrol helicopter were used
in a 2.5-hour search to locate Davenport
and Worth in a house trailer on nearby
Mayfield Road less than a mile away.
Davenport had been arrested earlier in
the week on June 13 for driving without
a license.