NOT a Copperhead (it’s an Eastern Milk Snake)

[Mike]

Too frequently, along with Northern water snakes, Eastern Milk Snakes have been killed by individuals claiming that they’re copperheads. My impression is that the frequency with which they are seen in many areas of Pa is low, at least specimens as long as this appx 2.5 footer, which I ran into on a Lehigh Co trail this past weekend. The last live one of that size in the wild that I saw was a 3 footer that I captured when I was 10 yrs old. I’ve seen many more 6-9 inch specimens, particularly around old fieldstone buildings.

If in doubt, I would compare this pic with that of a copperhead, paying attention coloration and color pattern from a few pics, copperhead head shape, often referred to as diamond-shaped, and the relative body robustness, Notice above that the milk snake’s head follows the general rate of taper of the body.

 

[jifigz]

Is that a milk snake?

 

[Cznymph]

Lampropeltis triangulum

Wouldn't want to have any confusion over the use of a common name.

 

[Mike]

Thanks for including that, although I am not aware of any alternative names for milk snakes. As with poison hemlock it’s not what you call it; it’s that you recognize it and it’s what you do with it that counts.

As for snakes on roads or trails, I take the considerate and respectful approach, encouraging them to get off of both so that they are not run over by an automobile or biker, and are not intentionally killed by some individual.

 

[jifigz]

I see the title of the thread has changed since I posted asking if it is a milk snake. lol. At first, it was "Not a..."

Milk snakes are a pretty cool snake.

 

[Cznymph]

Thanks for including that, although I am not aware of any alternative names for milk snakes. As with poison hemlock it’s not what you call it; it’s that you recognize it and it’s what you do with it that counts.

From “The Handbook of Snakes of The United States and Canada”

adder, blatschich schlange, chain snake, checkered adder, checkered snake, chequered adder, chequered snake, chicken snake, common milk snake, cow-sucker, highland adder, horn snake, house snake, king snake, leopard-spotted snake, milk sucker, pilot, red snake, sachem snake, sand-king, scarlet milk snake, spotted adder, and thunder-and-lightning snake.

 

[jifigz]

From “The Handbook of Snakes of The United States and Canada”

adder, blatschich schlange, chain snake, checkered adder, checkered snake, chequered adder, chequered snake, chicken snake, common milk snake, cow-sucker, highland adder, horn snake, house snake, king snake, leopard-spotted snake, milk sucker, pilot, red snake, sachem snake, sand-king, scarlet milk snake, spotted adder, and thunder-and-lightning snake.

By which name do you call these snakes?

 

[Cznymph]

By which name do you call these snakes?

I use the accepted common name “eastern milk snake”.

But as it’s been pointed out to me previously, since I found a number of other names that may have only appeared in print once or twice from a single source, then it’s perfectly fine to use the seldom used name, especially is the case of toxic, noxious, plants with public awareness campaigns. It’s actually preferred if you use the name of an entirely separate species.

 

[Mike]

I see the title of the thread has changed since I posted asking if it is a milk snake. lol. At first, it was "Not a..."

Milk snakes are a pretty cool snake.

Yes, I had an inopportune, momentary battery power outage here.

I agree; they are cool looking and pretty docile. In fact, the only aggressive snake species that I have been around in Pa, including the three venomous ones during a fellow student’s and friend’s telemetry studies of two, has been the Northern water snake.

 

[Mike]

From “The Handbook of Snakes of The United States and Canada”

adder, blatschich schlange, chain snake, checkered adder, checkered snake, chequered adder, chequered snake, chicken snake, common milk snake, cow-sucker, highland adder, horn snake, house snake, king snake, leopard-spotted snake, milk sucker, pilot, red snake, sachem snake, sand-king, scarlet milk snake, spotted adder, and thunder-and-lightning snake.

I like it! Nothing like a little local flavor.

Now that you listed the common local names I do recall that the milk-related names supposedly came from dairy farmers many yrs ago apparently commonly finding them in cow pastures and believing that the snakes were taking milk from the cows.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

By which name do you call these snakes?

Some call them Tim.

 

[jifigz]

Some call them Tim.

Really? Add it to the list with all of the other names.

 

[Cznymph]

I like it! Nothing like a little local flavor.

Now that you listed the common local names I do recall that the milk-related names supposedly came from dairy farmers many yrs ago apparently commonly finding them in cow pastures and believing that the snakes were taking milk from the cows.

Is it possible for you to make a post, and not completely edit it hours later?

 

[wildtrout2]

I came across this small milk snake on a Carbon county stream a while back.