The milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) is a non-venomous kingsnake known for its striking coloration and wide distribution across the Americas, ranging from southeastern Canada to northern South America. Its genus name translates to “shiny shields,” referencing its smooth, glossy scales. The common name, however, suggests a habit unusual for a serpent. This designation comes from a persistent and incorrect historical belief, not its appearance or behavior.
The Dairy Farm Myth
The name “milk snake” originates from a folk tale started by early American settlers and farmers. This myth claimed the snakes would sneak into barns and dairies to drink milk directly from the udders of resting cows. The belief arose because farmers frequently found these brightly colored reptiles in barns, which provided a cool, dark retreat. The stored grain and feed in these structures also attracted rodents, creating a reliable food source. Farmers, seeing the snakes near their cows, incorrectly concluded they were responsible for reduced milk production. This historical account is entirely false, as a snake’s anatomy makes it physically impossible to consume milk or create suction.
Dispelling the Legend: Milk Snake Diet
The milk snake’s diet completely refutes the legend of it drinking milk. As a strict carnivore, the snake uses powerful constriction to subdue its prey, which consists entirely of animal matter. Adult milk snakes primarily target small mammals, such as mice, rats, and voles, which explains their frequent presence in barns. Their diet also includes lizards, birds, bird eggs, and reptile eggs. Milk snakes are also known to be ophiophagous, meaning they regularly consume other snakes, including venomous species like rattlesnakes and copperheads.
Identifying Milk Snakes
Milk snakes are distinguished by vibrant banded patterns, typically consisting of alternating rings of red, black, and a lighter color like white or yellow. This striking pattern is a form of Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species imitates the warning coloration of the venomous coral snake. The precise arrangement of the colors is the most reliable way to differentiate the two. For milk snakes, the red bands always touch the black bands, remembered by the mnemonic, “Red touch black, friend of Jack.” Conversely, on the coral snake, the red bands touch the yellow bands, recalled by the phrase, “Red touch yellow, kill a fellow.”