The kingsnakes concealed inside the wetland map

A larger study revisits an earlier picture

A 2007 study tracked nine kingsnakes in the Pine Barrens during 1996–1998. They used both uplands and wetlands, favoring thick litter and dense shrubs at a finer scale. Nearly four-fifths of observations found them concealed. The authors described a broad habitat range, an important baseline for later work rather than evidence that every forest patch was equivalent. Wund and colleagues (2007).

Forty-six snakes and thousands of locations

The Commission’s May 2026 report followed twenty-four males and twenty-two females for one to four years. Of 3,587 telemetry relocations, 83.5 percent were in wetlands. Adding a 300-foot upland buffer enclosed 93 percent of observed locations. These percentages measure recorded positions; they are not estimates of the proportion of the population protected by a regulation. Bunnell and colleagues, final report (2026).

Researchers compared occupied habitat with available habitat and nearby random points. Kingsnakes selected certain wetland types and places with deeper litter and more woody debris. Home ranges containing more preferred cover were smaller. The findings suggest that the arrangement of usable habitat influenced how far the animals traveled. Bunnell and colleagues, final report (2026).

A map remains a sample

The older and newer investigations differ in sample size, duration and analytical scale. Their results should not be treated as a sudden historical change in kingsnake behavior. Together they show why direct tracking can challenge conclusions based on how often people happen to encounter a secretive animal. Wund and colleagues (2007); Bunnell and colleagues, final report (2026).