Tunica, Mississippi

[Flagg]

I occasionally visit the casinos in Tunica, and was wondering if corn snakes are native to that specific area and if there is a decent spot to find them in the wild in the vicinity of the casinos.

Seems like a lot of open land and woods in the area, and the river nearby. Is it too far north?

[SkyChimp]

I don't know where Tunica is in Mississippi. but here is a map showing the range of cornsnakes. Most of Mississippi is covered. Hope you find one!

[Flagg]

Going by that map, looks like it is just outside the range. More in the tan part just next to the NW edge of the orange colored area.

[SkyChimp]

Still, go looking anyway. These range maps are usually made by looking at surveys conducted by various state fish and game departments (or for those department by various local herp societies). For instance, in my home state of Virginia, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) has a map of the state, for each species, with counties highlighted where the species has been found. Most states have this. This is how authors compile their data to create these maps in their books. The trouble is is that just because a species hasn't been found in a certain county doesn't mean it doesn't exist there. In Virginia, there are curious areas where certain species apparently "don't exist" which lie between or among areas where the species is abundant. Fringe areas sometimes harbor the species in abundant numbers.

I live in Newport News, VA. I live in the "extreme" northern range of the Eastern Cottonmouth. Yet I know areas in my city where they are the most common snake, and found in such abundance that one had better watch his step. Yet they are considered rare here.

For example, here is a map from Virginia's DGIF showing the 'known" range of the Cottonmouth in Virginia. I live where the green dot is, a "known" county or city." Yet, I've personally seen wild Cottonmouths in the counties with red dots.

So, go looking anyway, you may be pleasantly surprised. better yet, you may find something just as interesting that you weren’t looking for.

[SkyChimp]

Here is a map showing the range of the Corn Snake in Mississippi. As you can see, the range is a "predicted range." It is loosely based on surveys or snakes found that people had the gumption to report. Snakes aren't high on people's lists of noteworthy animals like Ivory Billed Woodpeckers or California Condors. So, I suspect many many cornsnakes have been found than have simply gone unreported. Additionally, some Game Departments (and some Herp Societies) won't accept a siting unless it is meticuloulsy documented with a photo, time, date, exact location, etc. Most people just don't bother with it.

I betcha Cornsnakes are likely found state wide in Mississippi.

[SkyChimp]

I was wondering what it was about that map, the predicted range, and the topography of Mississippi that would make that particular area void of corn snakes. I found this map showing elevations throughout the state.

http://www.mississippi-map.org/mississippi-nc.gif
http://www.mississippi-map.org/elevation.gif

That area outside of the predicted range of the Corn Snake coincides with a very low lying area of the state depicted in the map above. I suppose that has a lot to do with it. But I'm not sure why. Perhaps the Corn Snake is a more "upland" type of rat snake? Perhaps a more farmland variety? I notice that the Rat Snake is found throughout the state, including the area Corn Snakes aren't supposedly found. In fact, it appears rat snakes are abundant in that area.

http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/gap/images/reptiles/maps/ehsnrng.gif

I still suspect Corn Snakes would be present if the right habitat could be found.

[Flagg]

Wow thanks for all the info. Next time I'm down that way if I start losing at the tables I'll have to take a hike and see what I can find.

[Samuraibill]

Since MS is almost outside of the larger cities. There is plenty of land to search. I know.....i live here. The only problem is that venomous snakes are also extremely prevailent. I am hoping to go on my first herp-trip this spring. i just have a problem with dangerous snakes and them finding me. hahaha its happened more than once.

look me up if you ever come down this way. I at mississippi state.

[bill38112]

I live in Memphis, TN.Tunica is about 50 miles south of Memphis. Having grown up here I would hazard two guesses about why the above map shows no corn snakes in the Tunica area. One, Tunica is in the flood plain of the Mississippi. Now we have levees holding back the river, but a hundred years ago that area flooded regularly. Two, that area has been heavily cultivated for centuries. As you drive down HWY 61 you'll see nothing but flat, cultivated land.

As a boy, I spent a good amount of my time with relatives in Mississippi. You don't have to go too far east of the river to find corn snakes,but I don't ever recall seeing one close to the river (which is where the casinos are by law).

BeckyG, you live down there. What do you think?