Eastern Milksnake
Lampropeltis triangulum • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Lampropeltis, Species: L. triangulum
Eastern North America, ranging from southeastern Canada down through the eastern United States to parts of the southeastern and midwestern states.
Look up Eastern Milksnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Lampropeltis, Species: L. triangulum
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, though local populations face threats from habitat fragmentation, road mortality, and intentional killing.
Physical Description
Displays a pattern of dark blotches (often brown or reddish-brown) bordered in black, overlying a gray or tan background body color. The head has distinct markings, and the scales are smooth and glossy.
Size & Dimensions
Typical adults reach lengths of 60 to 90 cm (24 to 36 inches), with maximum recorded lengths up to 132 cm (52 inches).
Habitat
Found in a wide variety of habitats including forests, agricultural fields, rocky hillsides, and near barns or old buildings. They prefer areas with ample cover such as debris, logs, and rocks.
Diet & Feeding
Diet consists primarily of rodents, small mammals, birds, lizards, and other snakes. They are active hunters and use constriction to subdue their prey.
Reproduction
Oviparous species, laying clutches of 2 to 24 eggs in mid-summer under logs, rocks, or decaying vegetation where warmth aids incubation.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, though local populations face threats from habitat fragmentation, road mortality, and intentional killing.
Cultural Significance
Historically associated with folklore regarding nursing cows, though biologically important for rodent population control in agricultural and rural ecosystems.
Notable Features
Known for their secretive, largely nocturnal habits and their ability to mimic other species in coloration and posturing.