Milksnake
Scientific name: Lampropeltis triangulum
Habitat: forest, savannah, prairie, streams and marshes
Diet: rodents, lizards, snakes, birds, eggs
Life span: 10-15 years (up to 20 in captivity)
Young: 2-17 eggs/clutch
Size: 35-175 cm (1.1-5.7 ft)
Milksnakes are coloured red, yellow and black to mimic the poisonous coral snake. Although milksnakes are not poisonous, their predators are tricked into thinking they are.
Because milksnakes are frequently found in dairy barns it was once believed that they drank the milk from cows’ udders. In reality milksnakes spend time in barns because of the high numbers of rodents that can be found there.
Learn more about this species:
These are some other websites that we think have more great information about this species.
Milksnake on Animal Diversity Web
For More Information
Edmonton Valley Zoo
13315 Buena Vista Road (87th Avenue)
PO Box 2359
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2R7
| attractions@edmonton.ca |
Range
Range: North and Central America
Status in the Wild
Status: thriving
