Milk Snake (original) (raw)

A Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) is a species of king snake. There are several subspecies among the milk snakes.

Some milk snakes have a striking resemblance to a coral snake and use this mimicry as a form of self defence.

The Eastern Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum) does not resemble a coral snake and tends to have similar markings to that of several other snakes, particularly the fox snake. There is enough distinction to make the Eastern Milk Snake fairly easy to identify.

The name of this medium sized snake has been given because of its tendency to be found near milk houses searching for rodents.

Milk Snakes are much more opportunistic eaters than the fox snake or corn snake. They have been known to consume a variety of animals including rodents, eggs, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and even other snakes. Nevertheless the diet of an adult Milk Snake still primarily consists of rodents.

Like other members of the king snake family, the Milk Snakes are cannibalistic and do have at least some immunity to the venom of other snakes.