Eastern Milksnake - Five Sisters Zoo

Eastern Milksnakes come in a variety of colours but feature distinctive banding or blotching in shades of brown, red, black and cream. Colour appears to be linked to geographic location with brighter reds appearing in more southern subspecies and darker browns further north.

Facts

Diet: Carnivore; small lizards, small mammals, reptile eggs, birds, other snakes.

Weight: 40g

Length: 286mm-890mm depending on sex and subspecies

Habitat: North, Central and portions of South America; thrives in a variety of habitats including forests, rocky deserts, valleys, mountains and on the edges of developed areas. Prefers to have a hiding space under cover such as rocks, logs or even manmade structures.

Life Span: 10+ years

Adapted to Survive

  • Scale colours and patterns work to deter predators as they mimic the venomous coral snake
  • Able to hibernate in colder climes until prey is available

Threats

  • Pet trade
  • Human-wildlife conflict

IUCN Conservation Status

Least Concern

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