Environment
Fact-checked

At AllThingsNature, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is a Milk Snake?

Lynndee Molyneaux
Lynndee Molyneaux

A milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum, is a species of snake found in a wide variety of habitats and geographical regions. In the United States, milk snakes generally range in length from 24 to 36 inches (about 60.96 to 91.44 cm), though they can reach lengths of up to 52 inches (about 132 cm); milk snakes found in other parts of the world generally range in length from 12 to 69 inches (about 30.48 to 175.26 cm), with the longest snakes typically found in neotropical regions. A colorful pattern is characteristic of the milk snake. Its body is usually light gray or tan with large rust, brown, yellow, orange, red, or white blotches enclosed by black or colorful borders on its back. Smaller blotches of the same color line its sides and its belly is covered in an irregular black and white checker pattern.

The milk snake gets its name from an old folk tale. As the story goes, this particular snake would drink the milk of cows and nursing mothers until they were dry. Although the story is not true, the name stuck.

A milk snake.
A milk snake.

Habitats of the milk snake vary and typically include deciduous and coniferous forest edges, tropical hardwood forests, streams, marshes, woodlands, prairies, savannas, rocky hillsides, agricultural areas, and suburban areas. Milk snakes can occupy areas as low as sea level and as high as 8,000 feet (about 2.4 km). They can be found in most areas east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States; in south-central Ontario, southeastern Ontario, and southwestern Quebec in Canada; and in non-arid areas of Mexico and Central America.

Raccoons hunt milk snakes.
Raccoons hunt milk snakes.

The milk snake is covered in smooth scales, giving it a typically shiny or glossy appearance. Its exact colors depend of which of the 25 known subspecies it is, with males and females having no sexual dimorphism in color. The milk snake's appearance can sometimes be similar to that of the venomous copperhead or coral snake, but the milk snake has a distinctive light colored Y- or V-shaped patch on its head. This adaptation may sometimes protect the snake from predators.

Milk snakes occasionally eat earthworms.
Milk snakes occasionally eat earthworms.

Males and females probably mate in the spring before they emerge from their hibernation quarters. The female usually lays anywhere from two to 24 eggs in the spring or early summer, and typically deposits them under rocks, in rotting logs, in small mammal burrows, under piles of debris, or in rotting vegetation. After the eggs are deposited, the parents play no further role in the upbringing of their young, as the eggs should naturally incubate in the warm, humid areas that the females choose for them. Generally, the eggs must be incubated for a period of 28 to 39 days before they hatch.

Milk snakes may eat mice.
Milk snakes may eat mice.

Newly hatched milk snakes seem to feed primarily on other young snakes. Milk snakes are typically brightly colored when they are young, and their color tends to dull with age. At three to four years of age, most milk snakes reach maturity. Their full life expectancy is uncertain.

The adult milk snake's main food source is small rodents, such as mice, rats, and voles. In this way, milk snakes can benefit humans because they tend to kill the rodents that lurk around barns and trash areas. They occasionally eat birds, bird eggs, frogs, fish, insects, earthworms, slugs, lizards, other snakes, and snake eggs as well. Milk snakes kill their prey by constriction and then swallow them whole.

Milk snakes may eat frogs.
Milk snakes may eat frogs.

As a primarily nocturnal animal, milk snakes are rarely spotted by humans during the day. Although they do not shy away from areas occupied by humans, milk snakes are usually hidden from view, occupying areas under rocks, logs, trash, or other cover. Milk snakes are solitary animals and are rarely observed in groups except during hibernation.

Animals such as coyotes, skunks, foxes, and raccoons hunt milk snakes. As a protection mechanism, milk snakes vibrate their tails, which make them sound much like rattlesnakes. For this reason, humans sometimes mistake harmless milk snakes for venomous rattlesnakes and kill them. Milk snakes are generally not a very aggressive animal but they do tend to bite when handled or threatened.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a milk snake and where can it be found?

Although milk snakes are not considered aggressive animals, they tend to bite when handled.
Although milk snakes are not considered aggressive animals, they tend to bite when handled.

Milk snakes are nonvenomous, colorful serpents belonging to the Lampropeltis genus, which also includes kingsnakes. They are native to a variety of habitats across North America, from Canada to Venezuela. Milk snakes are often found in barns, which led to the myth that they milk cows, but in reality, they're there to hunt rodents.

Why is it called a milk snake?

The milk snake got its name from an old wives' tale that these snakes would sneak into barns and suckle milk from cows' udders. This is a myth; the snakes were actually there to prey on mice and rats that are found in barns. The name stuck, despite the inaccuracy of the story.

How can you identify a milk snake?

Milk snakes are known for their distinctive coloration, which typically includes bands of red, black, and yellow or white. However, their appearance can vary widely across their range. To identify them, look for smooth, shiny scales and a Y or V-shaped pattern on their heads. They are often mistaken for venomous coral snakes, but a mnemonic to differentiate them is "red on black, friend of Jack; red on yellow, kill a fellow."

What do milk snakes eat?

Milk snakes are carnivorous and have a diet that primarily consists of small mammals like voles and mice, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. They also consume other reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. They are constrictors, meaning they coil around their prey to suffocate it before ingestion.

Are milk snakes dangerous to humans?

Milk snakes pose no danger to humans as they are nonvenomous and typically shy, preferring to avoid confrontation. If threatened, they may vibrate their tails to mimic rattlesnakes as a defense mechanism. Bites are rare and usually occur only if the snake is provoked or mishandled, resulting in minor injuries.

How does the milk snake contribute to its ecosystem?

Milk snakes play a crucial role in their ecosystems by controlling rodent populations, which can prevent the spread of diseases and crop damage. As both predator and prey, they are an integral part of the food web. Their presence indicates a healthy, biodiverse environment, which is essential for ecological balance.

Discussion Comments

bluedolphin

I've never seen a milk snake but I know they're around here. Our neighbor mentioned seeing one a few times. I agree with the other commentors that this is a fairly shy snake that likes to stay out of sight. Otherwise, I would have surely seen one. It's been a while since I moved out here and I spend a lot of time outdoors. In a way, it's good that they like to hide.

I like animals but I'm sure I'd be startled if I saw one suddenly.

turquoise

@Logicfest-- I think snakes need to be left alone, whether they are dangerous or not. Snakes usually do not attack people unless they feel threatened. And they do have an important place in nature. They are predators of small animals like mice and frogs. I don't know if the milk snake does this, but some snakes even eat their own kind and naturally control their population.

So if I can avoid killing or harming a snake, then I prefer to.

candyquilt

I had always wondered where this snake gets its name. The story about milk snakes drinking cow's milk until the cow is dry can't be real. But as far as I know, snakes do like milk in general. So maybe this snake was named as such for its love of milk. On farms in milk snake habitats, if there are buckets of milk lying around, I'm sure the snake would like to have some.

Soulfox

@Terrificli -- these are also confused with another nonpoisonous snake called a scarletsnake (life is hard for those brightly colored snakes, too, because of their resemblance to coralsnakes). The milk snake is a bit more intimidating, though, due to the rattles.

Hey, everyone has hard of rattle snakes and knows those things are harmful. If the snake rattles, the first impulse is to get away from it or kill it outright.

Logicfest

@Terrificli -- these are very common here in scenic Arkansas but you really have to go out of your way to find one. They tend to hide under rocks or in hollowed out logs and rarely venture out at all during the day.

If someone is kicking over rocks in an abandoned quarry, there is a good chance that person will run across a milk snake. Otherwise they don't expose themselves often.

The moral here is simple. If you hate snakes, don't go poking around places in this state where they are likely to hide. Milk snakes don't bother a soul, but their resemblance to a coralsnake has caused a lot of them to be killed.

Terrificli

Though these are harmless and tend to avoid people, milk snakes are killed in bunches. People are generally scared of snakes, but the milk snake has the great misfortune of looking a lot like a coralsnake which is quite venomous. I doubt people know enough about either snake to bother trying to figure out the difference between a nonpoisonous milk snake and the dangerous coralsnake. They just see a snake that might be poisonous and kill the thing immediately.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • A milk snake.
      By: Eric Isselée
      A milk snake.
    • Raccoons hunt milk snakes.
      By: marburg
      Raccoons hunt milk snakes.
    • Milk snakes occasionally eat earthworms.
      By: zest_marina
      Milk snakes occasionally eat earthworms.
    • Milk snakes may eat mice.
      By: Anatolii
      Milk snakes may eat mice.
    • Milk snakes may eat frogs.
      Milk snakes may eat frogs.
    • Although milk snakes are not considered aggressive animals, they tend to bite when handled.
      By: Remus Moise
      Although milk snakes are not considered aggressive animals, they tend to bite when handled.