Milk Snake

(Lampropeltis triangulum)

"Eastern Milk Snake"

Color Photograph: Ohio Department of Natural Resources

"Eastern Milk Snake"

Color Photograph: U.S. National Parks Service

"Scarlet Kingsnake"

Color Photograph: U.S. Geological Survey

"Louisiana Milk Snake"

Color Photograph: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

"Great Plains Milk Snake"

Color Photograph: U.S. Forest Service

Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)

Identification: Snake 14 to 78 inches in length. An extremely variable species both geographically and individually. Scales smooth and anal plate single. Northeastern and north-central populations are distinct from southern populations and are treated separately in this description. Eastern Milk Snake: Ground color gray to light tan with a series of reddish-brown to dark brown blotches running down the back. Each blotch edged with black. Head with a v-shaped light patch or band at the base of the neck. Other populations: A banded snake with prominent red, black, and white (or yellow) bands. Light band usually widens from the back toward the belly. Snout either reddish to black. Base of the neck with a white to yellowish ring.

Geographical Variation:

Eastern Milk Snake (L. t. triangulum): Ground color gray to light tan with a series of reddish-brown to dark brown blotches running down the back. Each blotch edged with black. Head with a v-shaped light patch or band at the base of the neck. Range: Southern Maine south to New Jersey and southward in the Appalachian Mountains to North Carolina, northern Georgia and northern Alabama. Westward to southern Indiana and western Kentucky.

Scarlet Kingsnake (L. t. elapsoides): Snout red; all bands usually continue around the entire body. Range: North Carolina southward to the Florida Keys, then westward throughout the southeastern United States to eastern Louisiana.

Red Milk Snake (L. t. syspila): Black borders of the red bands usually extending to the first scale rows; side of body commonly with separate blotches. Range: Western Mississippi westward to northeastern Oklahoma and north to Indiana, Illinois, eastern Iowa and southeastern South Dakota.

Louisiana Milk Snake (L. t. amaura): A banded snake. Snout dull white, heavily mottled with gray; black borders of red bands extend onto the scales of the belly. Range: Western Louisiana and eastern Texas and northward to southwestern Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma.

Mexican Milk Snake (L. t. annulata): Snout black; red bands broad, extending to the belly; belly black. Range: Southeastern Texas extending into northern Mexico.

New Mexico Milk Snake (L. t. celaenops): Snout dull white, mottled with black; black and white bands expanded on the back. Range: Northern and eastern New Mexico and western Texas.

Central Plains Milk Snake (L. t. gentilis): Snout black with heavy white spots; black bands widening on the dorsum, extending slightly into the white bands; red bands extend to the belly. Range: Plains region of eastern Colorado, western Kansas and southwestern Nebraska, southward to the panhandle region of Texas.

Pale Milk Snake (L. t. multistriata): Snout orange with black speckles; red bands often orangish on the back of the snake. Range: Western Nebraska northward into western South Dakota and central Wyoming and Montana.

Utah Milk Snake (L. t. taylori): Snout black; black bands enlarged near the dorsum of the body, sometimes fusing and interrupting the red bands. Range: Western Colorado, north-central Arizona, and in scattered populations in Utah.

Range (see map below left): The Milk Snake has a wide distribution in the eastern United States reaching extreme southeastern Canada, and westward into the Great Plains. This species extends into parts of the west from Mountana in the north to Texas and New Mexico in the south, and as far west as Utah.

Habitat: The Milk Snake lives in a wide variety of habitats from woodlands in the northeast to prairies, forest, and shrub lands in the west. The species is also found in suburban areas and farmlands.

Food: Small rodents, lizards, snakes, and birds.

Behavior: Although not rare, this species is seldom seen during the day. It is most commonly found under rotting logs.

Reproduction:  The clutch consists of 2 to 17 eggs and are often laid in rotting logs. The eggs hatch in August and September. Adults mate in the spring.

Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)

Similar Species:

The Eastern Milk Snake can usually be distinguished from other species in its range by its smooth scales, single anal plate, and the distinct dorsal blotches thinly bordered by black.

Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea)

Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata)

Eastern Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius)

Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake
(Lampropeltis pyromelana)

Long-nosed Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei)

Similar Species