Forest schoolers at Dunwoody Nature Center met Morticia the kingsnake
Eastern kingsnakes are nonvenomous and eat rats, mice and even copperheads and rattlesnakes, thanks to a natural resistance to pit viper venom.
Morticia, an Eastern kingsnake, is one of Dunwoody Nature Center's wildlife ambassadors. When the center's forest schoolers got to gently touch her, curiosity won out over nerves.
The kids learned that kingsnakes help control rats, mice and other pests, and even eat other snakes, including venomous copperheads and rattlesnakes. A natural resistance to pit viper venom is how they earned the "king" in their name.
Kingsnakes are nonvenomous. The center says up-close moments like this help kids see that every creature has a role in a healthy ecosystem.
From Dunwoody Nature Center· Instagram · Oct 30
Open the post“Meet Morticia, our Eastern kingsnake and one of DNC's wildlife ambassadors! 🖤 Snakes can seem a little creepy crawly at first. 😬 But when our forest schoolers got to gently touch Morticia, curiosity won out over nerves. 🙌 Here's what they learned: 🐀 Kingsnakes help control rats, mice, and other pests 🐍 They even eat other snakes, including venomous ones like copperheads and rattlesnakes 💪 Their secret? A natural resistance to pit viper venom 👑 That's how they earned the "king" in their name! Kingsnakes are nonvenomous, and they're one of nature's best pest-control crews. 🌿 Up-close moments like this turn fear into fascination and help kids see that every creature has a role in a healthy ecosystem. 💚 Perfect timing for spooky season, too. 🎃 #ForestSchool #EasternKingsnake #SnakesOfGeorgia #DunwoodyNatureCenter #DunwoodyGA”
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