Eastern milk snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eastern milk snake |
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| Adult eastern milk snake in Tennessee | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Lampropeltis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
L. t. triangulum
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| Trinomial name | |
| Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum (Lacépède, 1789)
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| Synonyms | |
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The eastern milk snake is a type of snake found in eastern and central North America. Its scientific name is Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum. This snake is not venomous, meaning it's not dangerous to people. It's a member of the colubrid family of snakes.
Contents
Where Do Eastern Milk Snakes Live?
These snakes live across a large area. You can find them from Maine in the north all the way to Alabama and North Carolina in the south. They also live as far west as Ontario, Canada.
What Are Eastern Milk Snakes Called?
The eastern milk snake has many other common names. Some people call it a "chain snake" or "checkered snake." Other names include "chicken snake," "house snake," or "king snake." Sometimes it's even called a "thunder-and-lightning snake"!
What Does an Eastern Milk Snake Look Like?
Eastern milk snakes usually grow to be about 60 to 91 centimeters (24 to 36 inches) long. Some can even reach up to 132 centimeters (52 inches)! They have smooth, shiny scales.
Their back has a pattern of brownish spots, called saddles. These spots are outlined in black. In the southern parts of their home range, these spots might look reddish-brown. The pattern on their sides and top can also be seen as three or five rows of black-bordered brown blotches. These blotches sit on a gray or tan background. The spots on their back are large, while the ones on their sides are smaller. Their belly has a black and white checkerboard pattern, which is often uneven.
Eastern Milk Snakes as Pets
Many eastern milk snakes are raised by people to be pets. They are usually calm and don't often try to bite. However, they might try to bite if they feel trapped or scared. Like most milk snakes, they do well in a terrarium (a special enclosure for reptiles). A larger enclosure is better for bigger snakes.
In captivity, these snakes eat rodents that have already been killed. Sometimes, a very young snake might need a special mouse that smells like a lizard to encourage it to eat.
Images for kids
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Juvenile eastern milk snake in Massachusetts
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Eastern milk snake seen in Ohio
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Eastern milk snake on a lawn
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Eastern milk snake at the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Michigan
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Eastern Milk Snake found near Decatur, New York on May 29, 2022
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