![]() ![]() The male snakes find a mate by following a scent trail left by the females. They will often hibernate in groups and will not emerge until the spring, where shortly after it is mating season. When it comes time to hibernate, the Milksnake will find an abandoned mammal burrow, rock crevasse or house foundation. Their diet is made up of about 70% small mammals, such as mice, rats and voles. If you happen to notice a Milksnake around your property, you should embrace them (not literally – they’re not much for hugging), as they may be helping you with a rodent problem. They can be found in a variety of habitats such as open forest, fields, and wetlands, and are often found around farmhouses, barns, sheds, and woodpiles. They will often hide under flat rocks, logs, boards or a piece of sheet metal. regulate their body temperature) by hiding under objects heated by the sun, allowing them to stay hidden throughout the day. Milksnakes are rather secretive, as they are mostly nocturnal. Living in captivity they are known to live up to 20 years. This isn’t very long considering that it takes them about 4 years to reach sexual maturity. The life span of a Milksnake in the wild is about 7-10 years. This defense mechanism isn’t always effective as raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes will still prey on them. When threatened the Milksnake will shake its tail, which creates a buzzing sound similar to a rattle snake’s while vibrating against dry vegetation. Having a similar appearance to the eastern Massasauga rattle snake comes in handy, as the Milksnake is able to use mimicry as a defense mechanism. Its key identifying features are the bold black outline around the blotches on its back and the V or Y shaped mark on its head. ![]() ![]() Being tan with reddish-brown blotches gives it a similar appearance to the Northern Watersnake, Eastern Foxsnake, Eastern Hog-nosed snake and Eastern Massasauga. This long, slender snake can reach a length of about 90 cm, while its body is no wider than its head. The Milksnake can be found in Southern Ontario and Quebec with a northern range to Sault Ste Marie. #WESTEEN MILKSNAKE SERIES#This week is our grand finale of our blog series “What is it Wednesday”, which will be featuring the Milksnake. Name: Milksnake ( Lampropeltis triangulum) ![]()
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