Family: Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes view all from this family
Description 14-78 1/4" (35.6-199 cm). Gray or tan marked with a light Y-shaped or V-shaped patch on neck and chocolate-brown to reddish-brown, black-bordered blotches down back and sides. Or colorfully ringed and blotched with red (or orange), black, and yellow (or white). Light neck collar followed by black-bordered red bands separated by light rings. Light rings widen near belly. Scales smooth, in 19-23 rows. Anal plate single.
Subspecies Eastern (L. t. triangulum), 26-52" (66-132 cm), Y- or V-shaped patch on nape of neck; s. Maine south to n. New Jersey and in Appalachian Mountains through North Carolina, Tennessee to n. Georgia and Alabama, and westward to w. Kentucky, sw. Indiana, north half of Illinois, ne. Iowa and sc. Minnesota.
Louisiana (L. t. amaura), 16-31" (41-78.7 cm); snout mottled black and white, black border of broad red bands extends onto belly scales; Louisiana west of Mississippi River and e. Texas north into extreme se. Oklahoma and sw. Arkansas.
Mexican (L. t. annulata), 25-39" (64-99 cm); snout black; edges of broad red blotches extend to belly scales, belly black; s. Texas into Mexico.
New Mexico (L. t. celaenops), 14-24 3/4" (36-63 cm), snout mottled black and white; black and light bands expanded on center line of back and rear belly, red extends to edge of belly scales; n. and e. New Mexico and adjacent w. Texas; scattered populations in sc. New Mexico to Big Bend area, Texas.
Scarlet Kingsnake (L. t. elapsoides), 14-27" (36-68.6 cm), snout red, bands usually continue across belly; North Carolina south through Florida Keys, west to the Appalachians and the Mississippi River in s. Mississippi and adjacent Louisiana, north through ne. Mississippi, c. Tennessee, and sc. and e. Kentucky.
Central Plains (L. t. gentilis), 18-36" (46-91.4 cm), snout mottled black and white, black bands encroach on red bands dorsally, red bands extend onto belly - may cross it or be separated by black bar; n. Texas panhandle, w. Oklahoma, e. and w. Kansas, e. Colorado, and sc. and sw. Nebraska.
Pale (L. t. multistriata), 18-33 1/2" (46-85 cm), snout light orange with black flecks, orange often replaces red, midline area of belly white with a few scattered black marks; w. Nebraska, w. South Dakota, se. and nc. Wyoming and se. and c. Montana.
Red (L. t. syspila), 21-42" (53-106.7 cm), black border of red bands extends to first scale rows, several side blotches may be present; nw. Mississippi west to ne. Oklahoma, north to sw. Indiana, c. Illinois, ne. Iowa, and extreme se. South Dakota.
Utah (L. t. taylori), 16-28 1/4" (41-71.9 cm), snout black or light with black blotch on top and tip, black bands expanded dorsally, often fusing and interrupting red rings, black-margined red bands extend to first scale row or edge of belly scales; wc. Colorado, ne., c., and sw. Utah, and nc. Arizona.
Note: Coastal Plain Milk Snake (an intergrade Scarlet Kingsnake and Eastern Milk Snake that is not a recognized subspecies), with light collar and reddish dorsal blotches reaching belly scales, occurs from s. New Jersey to ne. North Carolina.
Breeding In our range, mates in spring; deposits clutch of 2-17 elliptical eggs often in rotting logs, June to July; hatch August to September. Incubation period 6-9 weeks. Young 5 1/2-11" (12-28 cm) long.
Habitat Diverse situations: semiarid to damp coastal bottomland to Rocky Mountains and tropical hardwood forests; pine forests, open deciduous woodland, meadows, rocky hillsides, prairies, high plains, sand dunes, farmland, and suburban areas; sea level to ca. 8,000' (2,450 m).
Range Se. Maine, sw. Quebec, se. and sc. Ontario, s. Wisconsin, and c. and se. Minnesota south through most of United States east of the Rocky Mountains; Mexico south to Colombia and Venezuela.
Discussion Usually discovered under rotting logs or stumps or damp trash. Secretive and usually not seen in the open except at night. It eats small rodents, birds, lizards, and snakes - including venomous species. In the north, it is often mistaken for the Copperhead, in the south for the Eastern Coral Snake. Its common name is based on the absurd belief that it milks cows, taking prodigious amounts in the process. The adult size of the Milk Snake varies geographically. North American subspecies do not attain the great lengths of neotropical populations. In our range the species reaches its greatest length in the northeastern states and adjacent Canada. Adults in the Southeast are smallest. Record longevity in captivity exceeds 21 years.
