Minnesota Seasons - Eastern Milksnake

Eastern Milksnake

(Lampropeltis triangulum)

Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy

Eastern Milksnake — Photo by Jeff LeClere

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List

not listed

NatureServe

N5 - Secure
S4 - Apparently Secure

Minnesota

not listed
Species in Greatest Conservation Need

Description

Eastern Milksnakes are highly variable in coloration but most have a light background color with dark splotches that are outlined in black. There is usually a light-colored "Y" or "V" shaped mark on the back of the neck, sometimes replaced with just a light mark. The scales are not keeled. The belly has a checkerboard pattern. There is a single anal plate.

Size

Total length: 24″ to 36″

Similar Species

Habitat

Rocky hillsides; rocky areas in deciduous forests; and grassy areas near woodlands and rock outcroppings.

Ecology

Behavior

Milksnakes are frequently encountered in buildings with stone foundations, including human dwellings. They are rarely found in the open during the day.

Lifespan

Up to 21 years

Life Cycle

Food

Mostly rodents, but also amphibians, birds and bird eggs, reptiles and reptile eggs, and other snakes, including venomous snakes.

Distribution

Sources

14, 24, 29, 30, 78.

Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu. Accessed 12/29/2025).

Occurrence

Common

Taxonomy

Class

Amphibia (Reptiles)

Order

Squamata (Snakes and Lizards)

Family

Colubridae (Harmless Egg-laying Snakes)

Genus

Lampropeltis (Kingsnakes)

Species

This species was formerly named Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum) and the subspecies in Minnesota was Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum). At that time 24 subspecies of Lampropeltis triangulum were recognized. Genetic analysis by Ruane et al. (2014) resulted in the species being separated into seven distinct species. After further debate, most major authorities (including SSAR) settled on just five species. All other former subspecies are now treated as synonyms of one of the five resulting species."

Subordinate Taxa

Some authorities still recognize subspecies within the newly configured Lampropeltis triangulum. Two of these, the Red Milksnake (L. t. syspila) and the Eastern Milksnake (L. t. triangulum), occur in Minnesota. However, under the current SSAR standard, these are often grouped together simply as the Eastern Milksnake.