Are kingsnakes venomous (toxic)?

No, kingsnakes are not viewed as venomous (toxic), and as a group they actually prey upon venomous snakes. Some species of kingsnakes do resemble venomous snakes, but kingsnakes kill their prey using constriction, not venom.

Kingsnakes prey upon a variety of animals, including rodents, but they are known for eating other snakes, including snakes that have very dangerous bites. They are naturally immune to the venom of pit-vipers, one of the major groups of venomous snakes found in both North and South America.

Kingsnakes will bite humans if they are disturbed, but their bite presents no more danger than that of any other animal. The scarlet kingsnake closely resembles the venomous coral snake, but as with other kingsnakes, it too kills by wrapping around and squeezing its prey rather than poisoning it.

The lifespan of kingsnakes in the wild is unknown; they have however lived up to 30 years in captivity in the zoo.