Eastern Milk Snake

Milk snakes can be found from the southeastern extreme of Ontario, Canada, into southeastern Maine and all the states of the Eastern Seaboard of the United States of America, south to Florida, Alabama, Mississippi; in the midwest, from central Minnesota to Colorado, Nebraska, and the Dakotas; they are found in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains; and in Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. There are further subspecies found in nearly all of Mexico, from the state of Sonora east to the Gulf coast of Tamaulipas and throughout the rest of south and central Mexico; all through Central America and into Colombia and Ecuador.

Milk snakes are mostly nocturnal, especially during summer months. They are primarily terrestrial and attempt to blend in with ground litter. However, they are able to climb and swim. These snakes tend to be secretive and remain hidden. When threatened, a milk snake will usually first try to escape. If cornered or harassed, it may vibrate its tail and strike energetically, though they are non-venomous, have only tiny teeth and their tails lack a rattle. Unless frightened, milk snakes move slowly. They are often fairly docile.

Milk snakes are oviparous, laying an average of about 10 eggs per clutch, although that number may vary by region. to late June. In June and July, the female lays three to 24 eggs beneath logs, boards, rocks, and rotting vegetation. Milk snakes typically live around 12 years, or up to 21 years in captivity. They reach maturity within three or four years.

The milk snake is listed as of least concern by the IUCN (a wildlife conservation union), but in some areas, they may face significant pressure due to pet-trade collection. Because of this species' attractiveness in the pet trade, many subspecies are now being bred in captivity for sale.

(L. t. annulata)]] Source: * Guatemalan milk snake, L. t. abnorma (Bocourt, 1886) * Louisiana milk snake, L. t. amaura (Cope, 1861) * Andean milk snake, L. t. andesiana (K. Williams, 1978) * Mexican milk snake, L. t. annulata (Kennicott, 1861) *Jalisco milk snake, L. t. arcifera (F. Werner, 1903) *Blanchard's milk snake, L. t. blanchardi (Stuart, 1935) *Pueblan milk snake, L. t. campbelli (Quinn, 1983) *New Mexico milk snake, L. t. celaenops (Stejneger, 1903) *Conant's milk snake, L. t. conanti (K. Williams, 1978) *Dixon's milk snake, L. t. dixoni (Quinn, 1983) *black milk snake, L. t. gaigeae (Dunn, 1937) *Central Plains milk snake, L. t. gentilis (Baird & Girard, 1853) *Honduran milk snake, L. t. hondurensis (K. Williams, 1978) *pale milk snake, L. t. multistriata (Kennicott, 1861) *Nelson's milk snake, L. t. nelsoni (Blanchard, 1920) * Pacific Central American milk snake, L. t. oligozona (Bocourt, 1886) * Atlantic Central American milk snake, L. t. polyzona (Cope, 1861) * Sinaloan milk snake, L. t. sinaloae (K. Williams, 1978) * Smith's milk snake, * Ecuadorian milk snake, L. micropholis, incorporating L. t. andesiana and L. t. gaigeae * Guatemalan milk snake, L. abnorma, incorporating L. t. stuarti, L. t. oligozona, L. t. hondurensis, and L. t. blanchardi * Atlantic Central American milk snake, L. polyzona, incorporating L. t. arcifera, L. t. conanti, L. t. campbelli, L. t. smithi, L. t. nelsoni and L. t. sinaloae, * Mexican milk snake, L. annulata, incorporating L. t. dixoni * Western milk snake, L. gentilis, incorporating L. t. celaenops, L. t. multistriata, L. t. taylori, L. t. amaura (in part), L. t. annulata (in part), L. t. syspila (in part) This interpretation leaves L. triangulum as only containing three of its former subspecies and occupying a greatly reduced range of near and east of the Mississippi River. * L. t. triangulum * L. t. syspila (in part) * L. t. amaura (in part)