• About Us
• Care Sheets
• Field Guide
• Herp Info
• Herp Laws
• Herp Grant

• Reptile Show
• Adoptions
• Presentations
• Link Directory
• More Resources

Eastern Milk Snake

(Lampropeltis triangulum)

Photo Courtesy of Dawn Dolpp
Click for larger image

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.

Remember that in many places it is illegal to take wildlife out of the wild without the proper permits from local, state, or federal authorities. Please do not release any captive reptiles or amphibians into the wild as this will disrupt the natural order of our environment. See our amphibian and reptile adoptions page for more information on what to do with unwanted herps.

<< WNYHS Home: Find Amphibian and Reptile Information