Milk Snake
Milk Snake

Milk Snake

Milksnake

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Subphylum
Vertebrata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Suborder
Serpentes
Family
Colubridae
Genus
Lampropeltis
SPECIES
Lampropeltis triangulum
Population size
Unknown
Life Span
12-21 yrs
WEIGHT
38-225 g
LENGTH
60-132 cm

The Milk snake is a nonvenomous species of kingsnake. These snakes have smooth and shiny scales and their typical color pattern is alternating bands of red-black-yellow or white-black-red. Milk snakes are often confused with the highly dangerous Coral snake and are sometimes killed because of this. However, Milk snakes are absolutely harmless and are very popular as pets around the world.

No

Nocturnal

Ca

Carnivore

Te

Terrestrial

Pr

Precocial

Po

Polygynandry

Ge

Generally solitary

Hi

Hibernating

Photos with Milk Snake

Eastern Milksnake
Red Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum syspila)
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Distribution

Milk snakes are distributed from southeastern Canada through most of the continental United States to Central America, south to western Ecuador and northern Venezuela in northern South America. They live in forested regions, tropical hardwood forests, open woodland, open prairies, grasslands, and shrublands. These snakes can also be found in small streams or marshes, and agricultural or suburban areas. In various parts across their distribution, Milk snakes often live on rocky slopes.

Geography

Continents
North America, South America
Subcontinents
Central America
Countries
Canada, United States, Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela

Biome

Tropical savanna
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest
Temperate grasslands
Temperate coniferous forest
Wetlands

Climate zones

Tropical
Temperate
Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum)

Habits and Lifestyle

Milk snakes are primarily terrestrial creatures but will occasionally climb trees to prey on birds and their eggs. They are nocturnal hunters and during the day hide in old barns and under the wood. Milk snakes are generally solitary and will come together only to mate or during hibernation. During the winter they gather in groups in communal dens and go into a state of brumation. This state is very similar to hibernation, but the animal will often wake up to drink water and return to "sleep".

Group name
den, nest, pit, bed, knot
Lifestyle
Terrestrial, Precocial
Seasonal behavior
Hibernating

Diet and Nutrition

Milk snakes are carnivores. Young snakes typically eat slugs, insects, crickets, and earthworms. Adult diet frequently includes lizards (especially skinks), and small mammals. They are also known to eat birds and their eggs, frogs, fish, and other snakes.

Diet Carnivore

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
Polygynandry
REPRODUCTION SEASON
May-June
INCUBATION PERIOD
2 months
INDEPENDENT AGE
at birth
FEMALE NAME
female
MALE NAME
male
BABY NAME
snakelet
BABY CARRYING
3-24 eggs

Milk snakes have a polygynandrous (promiscuous) mating system in which both males and females have multiple partners in a single breeding season. They mate from early May to late June. In June and July, the female lays 3 to 24 eggs beneath logs, boards, rocks, and rotting vegetation. Once eggs are laid the female leaves. The eggs incubate for about 2 months and hatch around August or September. Hatchlings are independent at birth and are ready to fend for themselves. They will become reproductively mature at around 3 to 4 years of age.

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Population Trend
Stable
POPULATION STATUS
Least concern (LC)
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Population

Population threats

There are no major threats to Milk snakes at present. However, in some areas, they may face significant pressure due to the pet-trade collection. Because of this species' attractiveness in the pet trade, many subspecies are now being bred in captivity for sale.

Population number

According to IUCN, the Milk snake is locally common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.

Ecological niche

Milk snakes play an important ecological role in their environment as they help to control populations of their prey species such as small mammals, birds, reptiles and other snakes.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • Milk snakes get their name from an old folktale. The tale tells that these snakes suck cow udders to get the milk. The myth is entirely false and is discredited by the fact that Milk snakes do not have the physical capabilities to suck milk out of a cow. Milk snakes are, however, frequently found in and around barns, making use of their cool and dark environments, and for the easily accessed populations of rodents to feed on. This proximity to barns, and therefore cows, probably gave rise to the myth.

References

1. Milk Snake on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_snake
2. Milk Snake on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/197493/2490171

Related Animals

Corn Snake
Pantherophis guttatus
California Kingsnake
Lampropeltis californiae
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Pantherophis obsoletus
Plains Garter Snake
Thamnophis radix
Eastern Rat Snake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
Gray Ratsnake
Pantherophis spiloides
Eastern Kingsnake
Lampropeltis getula
Scarlet Kingsnake
Lampropeltis elapsoides

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