Watch: Agile snake 'shows off skills' on national monument wall

A brightly colored kingsnake was documented recently scaling a wall at Arizona’s Coronado National Monument, using the mortar between bricks as navigational routes.

The National Park Service was impressed by the sharp angles formed by the snake and joked via Twitter: “If it runs into itself, game over.”

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In describing the footage the NPS continued: “This Sonoran Mountain kingsnake has only one game. Snake. And it’s pretty good at it. Here it shows off those skills, hey, no cheating, on the walls of the visitor center at Coronado National Monument in Arizona.”

If it runs into itself, game over. pic.twitter.com/AIKNTYJ7kr

— National Park Service (@NatlParkService) June 13, 2023

Sonoran Mountain kingsnakes are constrictors that prey on small mammals, lizards and other snakes – including rattlesnakes.

They’re nonvenomous, but their coloration is similar to that of venomous coral snakes. It’s believed that this “mimicry” helps kingsnakes avoid predation.

Though kingsnakes are not venomous, the NPS advised caution, concluding: “Either way, if you come across a snake, keep your distance and don’t hiss it off.”