What Are Eastern Milk Snakes?
What are Eastern Milk Snakes?
he eastern milk snake (Lam-propeltis Triangulum Triangulum) is one of 25 subspecies of milk snake. Milk snakes are one of six species of king snake, sharing the Lampropeltis genus. Eastern milk snakes are the only type of milk snake found in Ontario and are one of nine subspecies of milk snakes found across North America.
On average, eastern milk snakes live 7-10 years. The snakes are usually 61-90cm long. The longest recorded milk snake was 132cm. They have small heads, sharp teeth and smooth scales. On the dorsal, eastern milk snakes have reddish or brownish blotches with black borders on a light grey to tan background. They are the only snakes in Ontario to be reddish in colour. These colours begin to fade as the snake gets older. Some other species of milk snake, for example the Mexican milk snake, are often confused with coral snakes, one of the most venomous species of snake in the world. Eastern milk snakes are nocturnal animals. During the day, they are rarely seen and would usually be hiding under objects.
Food and Predators
astern milk snakes are carnivores and being nocturnal animals, they hunt during the night. They eat small mammals such as mice, but will also eat birds, bird eggs, lizards, snake eggs and even other snakes, including venomous snakes like rattlesnakes and coral snakes. Their heads are not adapted to eat large prey. Eastern milk snakes are highly immune to the venom of certain snakes, including the timber rattlesnake. Adult milk snakes mainly feed on mammals. Young milk snakes feed on worms and other baby snakes. Eastern milk snakes are not venomous, and catch prey with their teeth. The milk snake then constricts it by wrapping several coils around it, and the prey is swallowed whole. Small prey such as eggs and baby mice are swallowed whole without being constricted. Eastern milk snakes benefit humans by killing mice and rats that live in farms and rural areas.
Eastern milk snakes are preyed on by animals such as raccoons, foxes, skunk, coyotes, owls, and snakes, including the eastern milk snake itself. When an eastern milk snake feels threatened, it will raise its head in the air, vibrate its tail and attempt to bite. When the snakes vibrating tail hits dry leaves, the sound made is very similar to the vibration made by a rattlesnakes tail. By mimicking the sound of rattlesnakes, this is thought to be a way of scaring away predators by allowing the eastern milk snake to look like a venomous snake. The predator may either leave or hesitate before attacking, allowing the milk snake to escape.
Ecosystem
he eastern milk