![]() Mating takes place in spring or early summer. A few remain near their overwintering spots, however. Most eastern milk snakes move away from their rocky outcropping or mammal burrow hibernacula to farms and grasslands with suitable food and cover during the summer. This snake is active from April to September. Eastern milk snakes, Lampropeltis triangulum, from Madison County, Iowa. Wild caught eastern milk snakes can look extremely worn having many scars, skin lesions, (especially before a shed) or stub tails. This was undoubtedly where the snake came from.Įastern milk snakes endure many temperature extremes hiding under tin or rocks in hot weather when other species of snakes are underground, or hiding beneath rocks or boards with water or mud under them. There were many trees about 20 meters away from shore. My cousin found a nice eastern milk snake (nice large, bright, red blotches with yellow interspaces) in Johnson County swimming into shore during a flood. Occasionally, they may climb in search of food or to escape severe flooding. Only on a few occasions have I observed eastern milk snakes sunning in the open. ![]() They spend much of their time hiding beneath logs, rocks, boards, bark, and other debris. They are very secretive and are rarely found in the open. An eastern milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum, from Jackson County, Iowa.Įastern milk snakes are diurnal in the spring and fall becoming largely nocturnal in summer. Eastern milk snakes are also found in woodlands and in the Loess Hills, but here they are rarely discovered unless they are found hit on the road or crossing a trail. Farmlands, grasslands bordering woodlands, and rock outcroppings, especially near waterways, are used. Rocky hillsides provide the favored habitat in Iowa, at least that is where they are most often seen. ![]() Range Range map for the eastern milk snake in IowaĮastern milk snakes are found almost statewide in Iowa. An eastern milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum, from Linn County, Iowa. An eastern milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum, from Plymouth County, Iowa.Ī few specimens from northwestern Iowa are similar in appearance to the western milk snake, Lampropeltis gentilis. Formerly, two subspecies of milk snake were listed in Iowa, the red milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum syspila, and the eastern milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum. No subspecies of the eastern milk snake are currently recognized. The scales are smooth and the anal plate is single. There is a light V or Y marking at the back of the head, but this is sometimes replaced by a light spot. Often there is a pink or peach wash to the general ventral coloration. The belly is white with clusters of black checkers scattered randomly about the venter. These vary in size, but are never as big as the dorsal blotches. There is an alternating row (sometimes two) of lateral spots on the sides. An eastern milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum, from Jackson County, Iowa. Still, others can be a dark gray with little or no difference in color between the ground color and blotches, only the black borders (which are always present) indicate the presence of blotches. Others can look a lot like fox snakes having an overall brown coloration. Some specimens can be beautifully light colored, having a light gray or brown ground color and bright to rusty red body blotches. Although this snake’s blotched pattern remains consistent, its general coloration is quite variable. The eastern milk snake is a medium sized Iowa snake that is 24 – 52 inches in length, but quite often maintains a slender build. Eastern milk snakes are common, but since they are very secretive, they are seldom seen by the general public. It is illegal to kill or collect this species by law in Iowa. PROTECTED and Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Eastern Milk Snake Lampropeltis triangulumīy Jeff LeClere An eastern milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum, from Linn County, Iowa.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |