Milk Snake Types

Milk snakes are a nonvenomous species of constrictor. Their bright colors and relatively low cost make them attractive to snake enthusiasts. Anyone considering one of these snakes, as a pet, should thoroughly research the responsibilities involved and be aware that the smallest of this species can be very difficult to feed. Although twenty four subspecies can be found in the Americas, only handful of these snakes are found native to North America and commonly kept as pets.

  1. Eastern Milk Snake

    • The Eastern Milk Snake can sometimes be confused with the venomous Northern Copperhead and their territories do overlap. They are characterized by a slender body that typically measures between 24 and 36 inches when full grown. They have brown to tan blotches rimmed with black. Eastern Milk Snakes can be found in much of the northeastern United States. These snakes breed in June and July and generally lay between two and 17 eggs per year.

    Louisiana Milk Snake

    • The Louisiana Milk Snake is commonly confused with the venomous Coral Snake due to its brightly colored pattern of black, red, black and yellow. These are not large snakes, normally only reaching a length of 16 to 24 inches. Their territory encompasses much of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas. Milk snakes originally got their name by the misconception that they would sneak into barns during the night and drink milk from a cow. This telltale is completely unfounded.

    New Mexico Milk Snake

    • New Mexico Milk Snakes are also characterized by the same black, red, black and yellow pattern. Although it may be easy to mistake these snakes for the venomous Coral Snake it is important to learn the difference. These snakes actually serve an important purpose in the environment by keeping the rodent population under control. The range of the New Mexico Milk snake includes Texas, New Mexico and northern Arizona.

    Red Milk Snake

    • The Red Milk Snake is yet another snake exhibiting the black, red, black and yellow pattern. One of the differentiating factors between milk snakes and coral snakes is that milk snakes have a white underside characterized by black checks, and the coral snake's rings entirely circle its body. The Red Milk Snake is somewhat larger than other milk snakes that display this common pattern. They range in size between 21 and 42 inches in length. Their natural territory includes parts of Mississippi, Oklahoma, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Kentucky and Alabama.

    Mexican Milk Snake

    • The Mexican Milk Snake is one of the most brilliantly colored milk snakes. They also are easy to keep as pets and readily eat pinky and small mice. The typical black, red, black and yellow pattern is accented by a black head and checkered underside. Snakes found in the southernmost area of its territory can also have a completely black underside. Although these snakes are not venomous they put on a display if they feel threatened; they typically strike and shake their tail in attempts to frighten away the threat. These snakes grow to be approximately 30 inches long. Their territory is the most limited of the milk snake species native to North America; they are only found in northeastern Mexico and southwestern Texas.