Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)

Group Snakes
Code ARADB19050
Order Squamata
Family Colubridae
Author (Lacepede, 1788)
Rank G5 (definitions)
Occurrence P (definitions)
Scale C (definitions)

County List:

Western UP Marquette
Eastern UP Mackinac
Northern LP all
Southern LP all

Rule:

Mixed Forested/Nonforested or Nonforested Landscapes

      Grass
      or Upland Brush
      or Savanna
      or Sedge Meadow
      or Lowland Brush
      or Bog
   containing:
      (Dead Down Woody Debris or Rock)
view decision rule term definitions

Habitat List:

Habitats Regen Sap Pole Sm Saw Lg Saw Uneven
Aspen nonononono-
Paper Birch nonononono-
Oak nononononono
Assorted Hardwoods nononononono
Northern Hardwoods nononononono
Spruce/Fir nononononono
Hemlock nononononono
Jack Pine nononononono
Red Pine nononononono
White Pine nononononono
Conifer Plantations nonononono-
Mixed Upland Hardwoods nononononono
Mixed Northern Hardwoods nononononono
Mixed Upland Conifer nononononono
Mixed Pine nononononono
Swamp Hardwoods nononononono
Balsam Poplar & Swamp Aspen & Swamp Birch nononononono
Bottomland Hardwoods nononononono
Tamarack nononononono
Northern White Cedar nononononono
Black Spruce nononononono
Mixed Lowland Hardwoods nononononono
Mixed Lowland Conifer nononononono
Non-ForestedGrass, Upland Brush, Savanna, Sedge Meadow, Lowland Brush, Bog or Muskeg
Special FeaturesDead Down Woody Debris, Rock, Edges

view size class definitions

Literature:

Holman, J. A., J. H. Harding, M. M. Hensley, and G. R. Dudderar. 1999. Michigan snakes a field guide and pocket reference. Co-operative Extension Service, Michigan State University. 72 pp.

These secretive snakes are found in woodlands, fields, marshes, and farmlands. They often hide under boards and trash near barns and other buildings. Milk snakes appear to be primarily nocturnal in summer.

In addition to rodents, Eastern milk snakes also eat other snakes.

Female eastern milk snakes lay from 6 to 24 eggs in rotted wood or under debris in early summer.


DeGraaf, R. M. and D. D. Rudis. 1986. New England wildlife: habitat, natural history, and distribution. GTR NE-108. Broomall, PA:USDA, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 491 pp.

Habitat: Various habitats, usually with brushy or woody cover, and found from sea level to mountain elevations. Usually found under cover. Farmlands, woods, out-buildings, meadows, river bottoms, bogs, rocky hillsides, rodent runways. Found under logs, stones, boards, well covers, stones in creek bottoms, or other cover during the day. In pine forests, second-growth pine, bog woods, hardwoods, aspen stands.

Special Habitat Requirements: Suitable cover or loose soil for egg laying.


Hunter, M. L., J. Albright, and J. Arbuckle (editors). 1992. The amphibians and reptiles of Maine. Maine Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 838. 188p.

Habitat: Typical haunts involve some woody or brushy cover such as mixed farmlands and woods. They have been found in open areas such as bogs, meadows, prairies as well as pine and hardwood forests. In farm country, they are often found near human dwellings and out-buildings. Optimal habitat in Kansas was considered to be woodland edge, open forest, and short grass, all with a good supply of flat rocks or other hiding cover. People often find this animal hiding during the day under rocks, logs, boards, rubbish, tar paper, or in rotted stumps or logs.

Suitable cover or material for egg laying is considered to be a special habitat requirement. A variety of places are used for egg deposition such as manure or sawdust piles, soil or sand, and under rubbish, logs, or boards.