Quck answer
Milk snakes are a species of non-venomous snake found in North and South America. They are often mistaken for coral snakes due to their similar coloration, but can be distinguished by their pattern: red and black bands separated by yellow bands on a milk snake, while a coral snake has red and yellow bands separated by thin black bands. Milk snakes are harmless to humans and are not dairy products, despite their name. They are named for the belief that they suckled on cow udders, but this is a myth. Milk snakes are popular in the pet trade due to their vibrant colors and ease of care.
Wild Animals
The Pueblan Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli) is not harmful to humans, but preys on animals such as mice, rats, birds, lizards, frogs, and other snakes. Joe McDonald/Getty Images
Have you ever heard of milk snakes? These colorful snakes found in North America have nothing to do with dairy products, despite their name. Many animals are named after things they eat, but milk snakes are not one of them.
Not About Milk
Herpetologist Trevor Persons explains that like many snakes, milk snakes are generalist predators. They will eat almost anything they can catch and swallow. Younger and smaller milk snakes usually feed on smaller prey, such as lizards, while the larger and older ones prefer small mammals such as mice or voles.
The reason for the name “milk snake” is due to the mistaken belief that they suckled on dairy cows and stole milk from farmers. However, this is far from the truth. Milk snakes have no interest in milk, and any cow would not tolerate a snake clamping down on her sensitive udder.
Harmless and Hardy
Milk snakes are nonvenomous and pose no danger to humans. Unfortunately, they are often killed because people mistake them for venomous snakes. Milk snakes can be found from Ecuador to Canada, but they can be challenging to locate in certain places.
In South Dakota, milk snakes are rarely seen, but they can be found in various habitats. They are known to live in prairies, pinewood forests, tropical places, and arid deserts.
The Central American coral snake, Micrurus nigrocinctus, is a venomous snake that has markings similar to those of the milk snake.
DEA/C.DANI/I.JESKE/Getty Images
For those wondering if milk snakes make good pets, the answer is yes. They are not poisonous, shy, and easy to handle. However, it is important to provide them with hiding places and feed them pre-killed mice as they consume small mammals and insects in nature.
A Colorful Debate
Milk snakes have a diverse color palette.
Most milk snakes have well-defined bands of red, black, and white or yellow scales. However, exceptions exist, such as a population of milk snakes in Panama and Costa Rica that become black as adults. Yankee counterparts are different, as milk snakes from northeastern United States and southeastern Canada have duller colors and blotches instead of bands. Scientists have debated how many milk snake species and subspecies exist. In the 1990s, researchers considered all milk snakes in North, South, and Central America as a single species, Lampropeltis triangulum, with 25 subspecies. However, in 2014, a genetic study identified seven distinctive milk snake species. Nevertheless, not all taxonomists agree with this arrangement.
Mimicry or Coincidence?
Most field guides to North American reptiles compare milk snakes with unrelated New World coral snakes. Coral snakes are elapids, and they are venomous. To fight off predators and kill their prey, these creatures have potent venom and hollow fangs. Some coral snakes advertise their toxicity with brightly colored scales. In contrast, milk snakes have colorful patterns that mimic those of venomous coral snakes. This Batesian mimicry allows a harmless milk snake to resemble a dangerous coral snake, which discourages potential predators who may have learned not to mess with coral snakes.
Hit the Road, Jack
Milk snakes range in size from 14 to 69 inches (35.5 to 175 centimeters) long, with the longest species found in Central and South America. There is a rhyme that goes, “Red touch yellow, kill a fellow. Red touch black, it’s friendly, Jack!” which refers to the banding pattern of Eastern coral snakes. These 4-foot (1.2-meter) serpents are found in the southeastern United States and have alternating red, black, and yellow bands, with their yellow bands touching the red ones in most cases.
The scarlet kingsnake, scientifically known as Lampropeltis elapsoides, has similar markings to some species of milk snake and coral snake, but with black scales separating the reds from the yellows. It is a nonvenomous snake that is closely related to the milk snake, which also has red, yellow, and black bands but arranged differently. It is important to note that the “red touch yellow” rhyme is not always accurate in identifying dangerous coral snakes as some have black bands touching red ones, while some harmless snakes have yellow-on-red scalation like the Sonoran shovel-nosed snake. Therefore, if you encounter a colorful serpent and cannot positively identify it, it is best to keep your hands off the animal for both your safety and the snake’s. Milk snakes are known to eat a variety of prey, including insects, eggs, birds, and even smaller snakes. Some of their relatives, such as the California kingsnake, are famous for their habit of eating other snakes, including rattlesnakes, because their blood serum contains venom-neutralizing properties.
FAQ
1. What is a milk snake?
A milk snake is a non-venomous snake species that belongs to the Colubridae family. Its scientific name is Lampropeltis triangulum, and it is found in North and South America. Milk snakes are known for their vibrant coloration, which resembles that of the venomous coral snake. However, unlike coral snakes, milk snakes are completely harmless to humans.
2. Why are they called milk snakes?
There are several theories about how milk snakes got their name. One theory is that farmers used to find them in their barns, where they would often be seen near the milk cows. Another theory is that the snakes were believed to drink milk from the udders of cows. However, both theories are untrue. Milk snakes are not attracted to milk and do not drink it.
3. What do milk snakes eat?
Milk snakes are carnivorous and primarily eat small rodents, such as mice and rats. They also eat birds, lizards, and other snakes, including venomous species. Milk snakes are constrictors, which means they squeeze their prey to death before swallowing it whole.
4. Are milk snakes good pets?
Yes, milk snakes can make great pets for experienced reptile owners. They are relatively easy to care for, as long as their basic needs are met. Milk snakes require a secure enclosure with proper heating and lighting, as well as a substrate for them to burrow in. They also need a varied diet and regular veterinary check-ups.
5. Can milk snakes be found in the wild?
Yes, milk snakes are found throughout North and South America, from Canada to Ecuador. They live in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and deserts. Milk snakes are nocturnal and spend most of their time underground or hiding in crevices during the day.
6. Are milk snakes endangered?
No, milk snakes are not considered endangered. They are a common species and are not currently threatened by habitat loss or other factors. However, like all wild animals, milk snakes should be left alone in their natural habitat and not collected or kept as pets without proper permits and knowledge of their care requirements.
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