In nature, shiny colours and distinctive patterns often signal one thing: danger. In general, that is the animal’s way of warning potential predators that it is best to remain away unless they’re willing to pay for it.
With few exceptions, these shiny colours indicate that the animal is very poisonous. However, there may be a phenomenon called Batesian mimicrywhere a harmless animal avoids danger by imitating the colours or patterns of its more dangerous relative.
For this reason, it’s good to know find out how to distinguish non-venomous snakes from venomous ones. Milk snakes are one snake known for his or her striking yellow, black and red pattern, but are they dangerous? Are milk snakes poisonous?
No, milk snakes are non-venomous and almost harmless to humans. Larger specimens, nonetheless, can still cause a nasty bite.
Milk snakes are quite common throughout the range, and in the event you come across one, it may be a significant cause for concern unless you realize find out how to positively discover them.
Later in this text, we’ll teach you every thing it’s good to find out about these striking yet good-natured snakes.
Milk Snake Appearance
Milk snakes are very variable in size and might range from a couple of foot and a half in length to over five and a half feet.
Medium to massive in construct, these snakes are powerful and physically outnumber small mammals together with other reptiles and amphibians when mature.
But essentially the most noticeable feature of milk snakes is their coloration, often consisting of a red base color with yellow stripes which can be surrounded by thin black stripes.
For this reason, milk snakes, together with other king snakes, are sometimes mistaken for the way more dangerous coral snake. More on that in a minute.
Are milk snakes poisonous or not?
No, milk snakes aren’t poisonous to humans in any way and aside from their ability to deliver a reasonably good bite in the event you provoke one or it will not be really considered dangerous to humans.
Note: common rhyming mnemonics aren’t completely foolproof
Such is the celebrity of the Batesian milk snake mimicry that several mnemonic rhymes have sprung up purportedly to assist people distinguish it from the truly venomous and way more dangerous coral snake.
While the coral snake has an alternating pattern of red and black blocks divided by thinner yellow stripes, the milk snake is generally red in color with thin yellow stripes surrounded by thinner black stripes.
This gave rise to a long-running rhyme: red touches black, no venom; red touches yellow, kill the guy.
Seeminglythe red of the milk snake would never touch its yellow part, as a substitute it might all the time be surrounded by black.
However, this will not be entirely reliable as many subspecies of the coral snake lack the everyday coloration present in rhyme.
Even more complicating matters, among the many eastern milk snakes some subspecies They don’t appear to be a coral snake in any respectbut may as a substitute resemble cotton balls or other vipers.
Certainly interesting stuff, but the most effective advice we will offer you is that this: never, ever approach any wild snake, regardless of what colours it’s, unless you could have the expert knowledge to positively discover it. Even then, watch out!
Where do milk snakes live?
Milk snakes are found throughout the eastern United States in addition to the southernmost parts of Canada.
These snakes are very adaptable and inhabit all types of regions and terrains, although they sometimes prefer forested areas.
That said, wherever rodent infestation will be found, it is not uncommon to see milk snakes in fields and planes, swamps or savannahs, and even sandy areas.
Will the milk snake bite you?
Milk snakes can bite you if thoroughly provoked or frightened. These snakes are known for his or her generally good and obedient temperaments, making them a favourite within the pet snake market.
Milk snakes definitely prefer to cover or flee within the event of a confrontation, but in the event you manage to bother them, they are going to defend themselves.
Defensive behavior begins with a threat display, often curling into an S-shaped pre-punch position, sometimes accompanied by mock strikes.
Like many other snakes, milk snakes also quickly tap their tails on the bottom or nearby vegetation to simulate the warning buzzing of their rattlesnake cousins.
Milk snakes will attack if touched or cornered.
Does a milk snake bite hurt?
A milk snake bite is more likely to be painful. These snakes are inclined to be large and powerful, and although they’ve small teeth, they’re razor sharp and hooked, which helps them to grab their prey.
While these teeth are unlikely to pierce skin or other hard clothing, they are going to easily injure skin in the event that they come into contact.
This can lead to a nasty, painful bite wound that may easily turn out to be infected as a result of other aspects or as a result of the abundance of bacteria within the snake’s mouth.
As all the time, make sure to clean the snake bite thoroughly and seek medical attention in the event you notice redness, swelling, or other problems, even in the event you are 100% sure that the snake that bit you will not be venomous.
Will milk snakes attack humans?
No, in principle. Milk snakes aren’t aggressive by nature and usually don’t desire anything to do with humans in the event that they have a say within the matter.
If you come across a milk snake within the wild, it’s going to likely attempt to hide or just run away from you, and you’ll have to impress the snake or seriously scare it to trigger a defensive response.
As detailed above, bites often only occur because of this of prolonged aggravation or very close contact.
Are milk snakes a danger to pets or other animals?
Milk snakes could be a threat to small pets, rabbits, rabbits, bird eggs and chicks or ducklings.
As mentioned above, these snakes are quite strong and can physically incapacitate their prey to feed on. Larger adults prey on rats and other rodents, in addition to other snakes.
But they’re opportunistic feeders and have been known to eat bird eggs and usually anything they think they will overpower and swallow.
This means it’s good to keep a watch out for puppies, kittens, rabbits and bunnies and in fact be careful for milk snakes hanging around your farm or farm in the event you keep any poultry.
Milk snakes aren’t a right away threat to larger animals, but as with all snakes, the sudden appearance of 1 can startle or panic your pets, causing them or your neighbors to be injured as they struggle to flee.
Should You Get Rid of Milk Snakes If You Can?
You should only attempt to do away with a milk snake if it directly threatens a few of your pets, no matter their species.
Milk snakes are constant predators of rodents, which might make them a friend to homeowners and farmers as they have an inclination to hang around near places where rodent infestations occur.
Barns, sheds, fields, empty spaces, and the like are places to expect mice and rats to run around, but once the milk snake has arrange shop in the realm, you will see their numbers drop dramatically.
But if the snake is a nuisance, you mustn’t kill it in the event you can avoid it. Contact an animal control agency or reptile specialist to return and take possession of the snake, or it was only a little bit of a precaution that may easily be collected in a container for relocation.
Milk snakes play a very important role in all ecosystems where they occur, each as predators and prey, and their killing must be avoided if in any respect possible.
