Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangidum) 



Description: The Milk Snake is a slender and medium-sized snake (to 42 inches in length or 

 more), with smooth scales. It has a highly recognizable series of red to orange saddles or 

 rings that are bordered by black bands and separated by white or yellow bands. Width of 

 dark and light bands can \axy widely. The subspecies in Montana {L. t. gentilis) tends to be 

 paler, with orange bands replacing red, and a light belly with few or no black spots. 



Similar species: None in Montana. 



Habitat and Habits: Little is known of Milk Snakes in Montana because only a few have been 

 reported. In Wyoming and elsewhere they are usually found near cliffs, talus, outcrops, and 

 rocky hillsides in forested and open country. They can be found in or under rotten logs. Milk 

 Snakes are secretive and most active at night. They eat a variety of vertebrates, including 

 other snakes, lizards, eggs, small mammals, and sometimes invertebrates such as earthworms 

 and insects. Eggs are laid in mid-summer. Milk Snakes sometimes vibrate their tails when 

 disturbed. Their name stems from an old tale alleging that these snakes milk cows. 



Surveying: Timed-sight sur\'eys may be conducted around cliff bases and outcrops; turning over 

 rocks in these areas may be very effective in May and early June (L. Vitt, pers. comm.). Most 

 distributional information will likely come from recording incidental sightings.. More 

 intensive research may be done using funnel traps in combination with drift fences. The most 

 intensive research and sur\'ey projects may use mark-recapture or radio-telemetry techniques. 



Status: Milk Snakes are very rare and local in Montana. There are no records from the Helena 

 National Forest, but there are records from the Three Forks area to the south (Reichel and 

 Flath 1995). The most likely places to find this species would be in rocky canyons on the 

 south ends of the Big Belt and Elkhom Mountains. The subspecies found in Montana is 

 highly sought for the pet trade. All records of Milk Snakes should be fully documented; of 

 particular interest would be documentation of denning sites. 



Montana Natural Heritage Program Rank: G5 S2. A Species of Special Concern. 



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