Details
Lampropeltis triangulum
The milk snake is a nonvenomous kingsnake with bold red, black, white or yellow patterning. Its warning colors often resemble those of venomous coral snakes.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It ranges from southeastern Canada through the United States, Mexico, Central America and into northern South America. Forest, grassland, farms, rocky slopes and settlements are all used.
Adults are roughly 60-175 cm long and 200-1300 g. Pattern varies widely by region, from bright tri-colored bands to blotched or muted forms.
Usually solitary, it is often nocturnal or crepuscular. In cooler regions it hibernates in dry upland shelters or underground retreats.
It constricts small mammals, lizards, birds, eggs and other snakes. The species is harmless to people and subdues prey with body coils rather than venom.
Females lay about 3-24 eggs in early summer under logs, rocks or rotting vegetation. Incubation lasts roughly two months.
The name comes from a folk belief that the snake drank milk from cows. It was more likely entering barns to hunt rodents.
