Eastern Milk Snake

Scientific Name: Lampropeltis triangulum
Size: 24-52 in. (61-90 cm) in length
PA Status: Abundant

Habitat Type:
Open country, ecotones, human habitats, road-cuts, powerline right-of-ways, rocky hillsides, bog borders, and deciduous forest. May be found under cover objects, rocks, logs, boards, tin, or other building debris.

Colorations:
Adults:

  • The dorsal background can be grey, beige, grey-brown, olive brown, or pinkish brown to red.
  • The strong dorsal pattern has 30-47 large squarish blotches with smaller alternating row of lateral blotches on the sides.
  • Blotches vary from light to dark brown that are bordered by black.
  • There is a “V”, ”U” or “Y” shaped blotch anteriorly onto the head.
  • The ventral background is white to beige with black square markings giving it the look of a checkerboard.
  • A solid line runs from the posterior margin of the eye to the angel of the mouth.
  • A narrow black bar generally extends across the prefrontals.
  • The head has a light tan or light brown background color that becomes lighter on the suparlabials.
  • The chin is white to cream with dark markings along the edge of the infralabials.
  • PA has a number of albino individuals recorded.

Juveniles:

  • Similar to adults.
  • Blotches are brighter red to orange-brown.

Characteristics:

  • Medium-sized species.
  • Scales are smooth.
  • The head is small, blunt and slightly distinct from the body.

Scale Counts:

  • 21 scale rows at mid-body
  • 19-27 anterior rows
  • 135-244 ventral scales
  • 21-78 subcaudals | 2 rows of subcaudals
  • 2 nasal scales
  • 1 loreal scale
  • 1 preocular scale
  • 2 postocular scales
  • 1-2+2 temporal scales
  • 7 supralabials
  • 8-9 infralabials
  • Anal plate is undivided

Confused with:

  • Northern Water Snake
  • Hognose
  • Black Rat Snake
  • Northern Racer
  • Copperhead

Coloration/Pattern Photos:
Adults:
E. Milk Snake - Adult - By: Billy Brown Milk Snake - Adult from Warren County, PA By: Rex Everett Milk Snake - Adult from Cameron County, PA By: Rex Everett
E. Milk Snake - Adult - By: Billy Brown E. Milk Snake - Adult - By: Billy Brown

Juveniles:
Eastern Milk Snake - Juvenile - By: Jason Poston

Range Map:
Eastern Milk Snake Range Map

References:

  • Hulse, C. and McCoy C. J. and Ellen Censky ,1998. Amphibians and Reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast. 297-301pp.
  • Ernst, Carl H. and Ernst, Evelyn M. ,2003. Snakes of the United States and Canada. 246-254pp.

Photo Credits:

  • Jason Poston
  • Billy Brown
  • Rex Everett