Eastern Milksnake
Lampropeltis triangulum • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Lampropeltis, Species: L. triangulum
Eastern North America, ranging from southern Ontario and Quebec south to North Carolina, and west to the Mississippi River.
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. Populations are generally stable, though local declines can occur due to habitat loss and intentional killing.
Physical Description
Slender body with a pattern of dark brown or reddish-brown blotches outlined in black over a gray or tan background. The scales are smooth and glossy.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen shown is likely a juvenile, approximately 12 to 18 inches long. Adults typically range from 24 to 36 inches, with a maximum of around 52 inches.
Habitat
Found in a wide variety of habitats including fields, forested regions, rocky hillsides, agricultural areas, and often near human habitation such as barns and basements.
Diet & Feeding
Preys primarily on small rodents, lizards, amphibians, birds, and other snakes. Uses constriction to subdue active prey.
Reproduction
Oviparous species that mates in the spring and lays clutches of 2 to 24 eggs in rotting wood, under rocks, or in loose soil during early summer.
Look-alikes
Frequently confused with various copperheads or rat snakes due to the blotched pattern, but can be distinguished by rounded pupils and lack of heat-sensing pits.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. Populations are generally stable, though local declines can occur due to habitat loss and intentional killing.
Cultural Significance
Often found around old barns and farm buildings where they help control rodent populations. The common name originates from the old folk belief that they milked cows.
Notable Features
Known for emitting a musk when threatened and rapidly vibrating the tail against dry leaves to mimic a rattlesnake.