Open 361 Days a Year: Admissions 10:00am – 3:30pm; park closes at 4:30pm

Reservations are not required, and tickets do not need to be purchased online in advance.

Corn Snake

Corn Snake

Elaphe gutata gutata

Appearance: Corn snakes are long, slender, and brightly colored. Corn snake coloration is highly variable and can be affected by the snakes’ age, the region in which they live, and if it was bred for the pet trade. Also known as red rat snakes, their colors can range from reds, grays, oranges, blacks, and yellows. The name “corn snake” can be attributed to the scale pattern on their belly, which resembles flint corn, and their tendency to frequent corn cribs to eat visiting mice.

Range: Corn snakes live in the southeast and as far north as New Jersey and as far west as eastern New Mexico and Colorado, usually in wooded or rocky areas, meadows, along waterways, wood lots, barnyards, and abandoned houses. Corn snakes are most active at night, but it is possible to see them in the early evening. During the day they can usually be found hiding in leaf litter or under rocks or logs.

Diet: Corn snakes use their ability to climb trees and rafters in search of prey, including mice, rats, birds, bats, and bird eggs. Like other rat snakes, corn snakes are non-venomous and can subdue their prey by constriction.

Ginger

Ginger the Corn Snake

Date of Birth: July 2009

Ginger was donated to the WNC Nature Center in July 2013 by a family who kept her as a pet. Ginger grew up in the pet trade and has never known life in the wild. Her pattern has beautiful red undertones.

Kettle

Kettle the Corn Snake

Date of Birth: September 2012

Kettle and his brother Caramel were both born at the WNC Nature Center. Kettle enjoys using tunnels for enrichment.

Caramel

Date of Birth: September 2012

Carmel and his brother Kettle were both born at the WNC Nature Center. Caramel is a very docile snake and quite the artist! Using non-toxic paint, his keepers help him paint a canvas with his body. Sometimes this artwork is available for sale at the Nature Center Gift Shop!

Meet our other animals

American Black Bear

American Black Bear

Generally shy and reclusive animals, black bears avoid human contact and are not normally aggressive. Two black bears, Uno and Ursa, live at the Nature Center.

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Red Wolf Karma

American Red Wolf

Red wolves are highly endangered species that has been eliminated from almost all of its natural range. Our breeding pair of red wolves, Oak and Gloria, are part of the AZA Species Survival Plan.

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American Pygmy Goat

American Pygmy Goat

Similar to the Nigerian dwarf goat, the American pygmy is a small goat that only reaches 1-2 feet in height. They vary widely in coloration including white, tan, caramel, gray, and black.

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