ALT An eastern mud turtle on a sand road in the Pinelands

ALT A five-lined skink on a tree in the Pinelands. It has blue lines on its tail

ALT An eastern fence lizard climbing a tree in the Pinelands.

ALT The corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) is a non-venomous, colorful, secretive species of rat snake that reaches the northern limit of its range in the New Jersey Pinelands (or Pine Barrens). Also called the red rat snake, the corn snake is listed as an endangered species by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Corn snakes are excellent climbers and are most often concealed in hollow trees, hollow logs, or in the needles and leaves on the forest floor. Corn snakes climb trees to eat bird eggs and nestlings, to hide during shedding, and to digest meals.