Scales: Smooth

Anal Plate: Single

The Eastern Milk Snake is the nominal subspecies of milk snakes. Of the twenty five different subspecies of milk snakes, this one looks the least like any of them. It looks more like a prairie king snake, than a milk snake. Adult Eastern Milk snakes grow to around two and a half to three feet in length.

This subspecies is found in the Midwest, northeast states, southeast part of Ontario and southern part Quebec. They are found in a broad range of habitat, ranging from goat prairies to forests.

Milk Snakes have a broad range of prey items. Prey items such as frogs, mice, birds, lizards and snakes have been recorded in their diet.

Young specimens are a deep shade of red outlined by black, the red tend to fade out to brown or light orange as they mature in to adulthood.

It is commonly referenced that Milk Snakes got their name because they were thought to drink milk from cow udders. Of course this is a myth, but this subspecies of milk snake is commonly found in areas associated with people. They are often attracted there by the abundance of mice.

References