Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum (Eastern Milksnake)
Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum)
The Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum) is a secretive serpent residing of Rosslyn’s meadows and woodlands, as well as stone walls crisscrossing the Adirondack Coast of Lake Champlain. This nonvenomous constrictor, with striking reddish-brown blotches and checkerboard belly, thrives in the mix of wild and cultivated landscapes that define Essex, New York. Drawn to the forest edges (where field and woods meet), Eastern Milksnakes often shelter beneath among rocks, in woodpiles, and in the cool shadows of farm equipment and barns where their favorite prey, rodents, abound.
Quiet testament to the enduring interplay between peopled places and the natural world, these “herps” offer an almost exotic twist to Rosslyn’s ecological tapestry. Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum is at once mysterious and resilient, reserved but extravagantly beautiful. Much more than a fleeting glimpse along an old stone wall or the north side of an abandoned barn is extremely rare. But if you’re lucky enough to spot an elegantly camouflaged Eastern Milksnake, rest assured that this Adirondack Park native is neither dangerous nor aggressive.
I hope that you’ll appreciate these Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum) posts. Please reach out with any questions, corrections, recommendations, and/or personal anecdotes. I look forward to hearing from you!
Eastern Milksnake
Eastern Milksnake?
