Nocturnal and secretive, the milk snake (Lampropeltis doliata triangulum) is often confused with the northern copperhead. It has similar reddish-brown, black bordered blotches on its back and sides but the milk snake has a Y or V shaped patch on its neck.

Adults reach a length of 24 - 26 inches. During the June-July breeding season, females will lay 2 - 17 eggs. The snake prefers a habitat that includes woods, meadows, river bottoms, farms and cities.

Unlike the venomous copperhead, the milk snake is a true constrictor. It is beneficial around a farm because of its diet of mice and other small rodents. Other parts of its diet include birds, lizards and snakes (including venomous snakes).

The milk snake gets its name from the myth that, at night, they enter barns and "suck" milk from cows. This is because they are often found in barns hunting rodents. However, they do not have the ability to "suck" milk or anything else.

Milk snakes have a life expectancy of 11 years.

See Also

• Venomous Snakes
• Northern Copperhead Snake
• Constrictor
• Head