A mimic of the eastern coral snake ( Micrurus fulvius), scarlet kingsnakes typically have alternating bands of red, black, and yellow in which red touches black but not yellow (in eastern coral snakes red touches yellow but not black. The coloration and patterning is arguably the most beautiful of all snakes in our region. triangulum elapsoides): Scarlet kingsnakes are considerably smaller than milk snakes and reach lengths of 14 – 20 in (36-51 cm). She is interested in sustainability, the environment, and education.Scarlet Kingsnake / Eastern Milksnake ( Lampropeltis Alicia is a conservation intern for Nature Canada and she will be focusing on the Lac Deschenes Ottawa River Important Bird Area project during the summer. We would like to thank Alicia Cuzner for this post. A photo and the location of your sighting are also very helpful! You can report sightings of this and other rare species to the Canadian Wildlife Service at (819) 997-2800 or on the MNR Natural Heritage Information Centre website. The lifespan of the Milksnake in the wild is unknown, but one snake caught as an adult lived for another 21 years in captivity.Ĭheck back every week to read about a different species at risk that can be found in Lac Deschênes.The Milksnake is the only snake in Ontario that has red blotches.The Milksnake got its name from the false belief that it takes milk from farm cows.There are 25 subspecies of Milksnake found in North America, but only one subspecies, the Eastern Milksnake, is found in Canada. It is very rare to see these snakes in city centres, such as Ottawa, but they may be seen on the Quebec side of Lac Deschenes. One would have a good chance spotting a Milksnake along the border of Quebec and Ontario by the St. In Ontario, the Milksnake can be found as far north as Lake Nipissing and Sault Ste. The Milksnake can be found in southern Canada and throughout the United States, Mexico, and South America. The Milksnake receives protection from some provincial and national parks, as well as the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). Milksnakes hunt during the night and hide during the day. The primary diet of the Milksnake consists of mice and small nesting birds. Humans are also a threat to Milksnakes through habitat loss from urbanization, construction, and development of agricultural areas. Unfortunately, this often leads to people killing them on site because many mistake it for the venomous Mississauga Rattlesnake due to its similar colouring and vibrating tail. However, when the Milksnake is threatened it raises its head in the air and vibrates its tail, much like a venomous snake. The Milksnake is not venomous, and therefore is not dangerous. The neck of the Milksnake can have a light cream coloured “Y” or “V” shaped patch, though this patterning is not consistent with all Milksnakes. The belly of the snake has a black and white checkerboard pattern. For instance, sometimes the Milksnake has a tan, brown, or grey base with copper coloured splotches surrounded by a brown boarder. With beautiful red and white stripes, this slender snake can grow up to a meter long! Atop its white base colour, the Milksnake has reddish-brown splotches surrounded by a black border. Individuals can display a variety of colour shades. Size: The largest individual on record was 132 cm long, but the typical lengths are between 60 and 90 cm. SARA Status: Special Concern Ontario: Special Concern Quebec: Likely to be designated Eastern Milksnake: Photographer Keaton Wilson
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