Eastern Milk Snake
(Lampropeltis triangulum)
Photo Courtesy of Dawn Dolpp
The Eastern Milk Snake is generally 26 - 52 inches in length. They are pale gray to yellowish in color with reddish brown patches outlined in black. The head is usually the same size as the body and there is usually a V-shaped or Y-shaped patch on the neck. It can sometimes be mistaken for a copperhead, which is not found in Western New York.
Mating occurs in the spring and 2 - 17 oval eggs are laid in rotting logs in June or July. After 6 - 9 weeks the eggs will hatch in August or September. The young are usually 5 - 11 inches in length.
The Eastern Milk Snake is very adaptable and can be found in many different habitats including forests, grasslands, rural and even suburban areas. They are often found in rotting logs or under damp trash. They tend to be shy and will generally only venture out from cover at night. It eats rodents, birds, lizards and other snakes. It gets the name milk snake form a myth that the snake actually milks cows and drinks the milk.
For care information about milk snakes see our Milk Snake Care Sheet.