What is milk snake?

Milk Snake Information

• Scientific Name: Lampropeltis triangulum

• Geographic Range: Milk snakes are one of the most widespread snakes in the Americas. Their range stretches from southeastern Canada through most of the United States, Central America, and into northern South America. This widespread distribution leads to significant variation among the species.

• Habitat: These snakes are adaptable and found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, forests, farmlands, and rocky hillsides. They prefer areas with adequate cover, such as logs, rocks, and leaf litter.

• Appearance: Milk snakes exhibit considerable variation in color and pattern, depending on their geographic location. They are known for their bright colors. Typically, they have alternating bands of red, black, and yellow or white. However, these colors can vary considerably. Some subspecies lack red bands, while others have brown or gray instead of red. The name "triangulum" comes from the often triangle shaped marking found on the head of milk snakes.

• Size: Adult milk snakes typically range in size from 2 to 4 feet (60 to 120 cm) in length, although some individuals can reach up to 5 feet (150 cm).

• Diet: Milk snakes are carnivores, and their diet primarily consists of rodents. However, they also eat lizards, other snakes (including venomous ones), birds, and amphibians. They are constrictors, meaning they kill their prey by squeezing them.

• Behavior: Milk snakes are generally nocturnal or crepuscular (active during dawn and dusk). They are secretive snakes, often hiding under rocks, logs, or other debris. When threatened, they may vibrate their tails and strike defensively, but they are non-venomous and pose no threat to humans.

• Reproduction: Milk snakes are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs. Females typically lay a clutch of 2 to 24 eggs in the summer, usually in a hidden location such as under a log or in a decaying vegetation pile. The eggs hatch after about 50 to 65 days.

• Mimicry: Some milk snake subspecies are known for their mimicry of venomous coral snakes. The coloration patterns are similar (red, black, and yellow bands). However, remember the rhyme to tell them apart: "Red touches black, friend of Jack. Red touches yellow, kills a fellow" (referring to the venomous coral snake). This rhyme is a common way to remember the difference, but it only applies to coral snakes found in North America.

Important Subjects:

• Scientific Name
• Geographic Range
• Habitat
• Appearance
• Size
• Diet
• Behavior
• Reproduction
• Mimicry