Eastern milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum)

No. The eastern milksnake is non-venomous: it belongs to the family Colubridae, not to the pit vipers or coral snakes, the only U.S. land snakes with medically dangerous venom. It may bite if handled; clean the bite like any small wound.

The eastern milksnake is non-venomous, but people often take it for copperheads (both are recorded in 27 of its 40 states) and coral snakes (both are recorded in 9 of its 40 states).

Records are spread over 40 states; the top three, Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan, hold 32% of them.

Across the U.S., observation records of the eastern milksnake run mostly May through October, peaking in June with 29% of them. Almost none are from December to February.

Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in March (Tennessee) and latest in May (Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio and Vermont). The most common peak month is June, shared by Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.

Pennsylvania holds 520 licensed records, the 6th most recorded of 20 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Pennsylvania run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Allegheny County, Centre County and Crawford County. Next come Westmoreland County (20) and Montgomery County (19).

New York holds 330 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 17 snakes listed there. Its observation records in New York run mostly May through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Tompkins County, Ulster County and Dutchess County. Next come Chemung County (18) and Tioga County (12).

Michigan holds 285 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 17 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Michigan come from Washtenaw County, Isabella County and Cheboygan County. Next come Charlevoix County (20) and Oakland County (9).

Kansas holds 245 licensed records, the 22nd most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Kansas come from Douglas County, Johnson County and Riley County. Next come Jefferson County (10) and Cheyenne County (9).

Ohio holds 214 licensed records, the 6th most recorded of 25 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Ohio run mostly May through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Summit County, Scioto County and Franklin County. Next come Cuyahoga County (8) and Portage County (7).

Virginia holds 207 licensed records, the 14th most recorded of 30 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Highland County, Augusta County and Madison County. Next come Fauquier County (14) and Loudoun County (9).

North Carolina holds 172 licensed records, the 28th most recorded of 39 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in North Carolina come from Watauga County, Macon County and Graham County. Next come Beaufort County (6) and Rutherford County (6).

Texas holds 148 licensed records, the 50th most recorded of 86 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Texas come from Brazos County, McMullen County and Val Verde County. Next come Hardin County (6) and Jim Hogg County (5).

Massachusetts holds 142 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 13 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Massachusetts run mostly May through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Middlesex County, Worcester County and Essex County. Next come Norfolk County (14) and Barnstable County (12).

Indiana holds 116 licensed records, the 6th most recorded of 27 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Indiana run mostly May through August, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Brown County, Newton County and Monroe County. Next come Wells County (8) and Morgan County (6).

Maryland holds 110 licensed records, the 10th most recorded of 20 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Maryland run mostly May through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Garrett County, Montgomery County and Baltimore County. Next come Frederick County (9) and Washington County (7).

Connecticut holds 94 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 14 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Connecticut come from New Haven County, Fairfield County and Litchfield County. Next come Middlesex County (10) and Hartford County (7).

West Virginia holds 90 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 18 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in West Virginia come from Randolph County, Preston County and Pocahontas County. Next come Tucker County (10) and Grant County (3).

Vermont holds 74 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 9 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Vermont run mostly May through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Windsor County, Chittenden County and Orange County. Next come Rutland County (12) and Windham County (9).

Tennessee holds 62 licensed records, the 14th most recorded of 32 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Tennessee run mostly March through August, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Stewart County, Monroe County and Sevier County. Next come Davidson County (3) and DeKalb County (3).

Illinois holds 59 licensed records, the 14th most recorded of 33 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Illinois run mostly April through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Cook County, Jersey County and Iroquois County. Next come Kankakee County (6) and Woodford County (5).

Kentucky holds 56 licensed records, the 9th most recorded of 24 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Kentucky run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Fayette County, Madison County and Hickman County. Next come Trigg County (3) and Garrard County (2).

Nebraska holds 49 licensed records, the 13th most recorded of 31 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Nebraska come from Thayer County, Cherry County and Cass County. Next come Keith County (2) and Knox County (2).

New Hampshire holds 49 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 9 snakes listed there. Its observation records in New Hampshire run mostly May through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Cheshire County, Hillsborough County and Grafton County. Next come Belknap County (5) and Rockingham County (5).

Maine holds 46 licensed records, the joint 5th most recorded of 9 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Maine come from Hancock County, York County and Waldo County. Next come Cumberland County (5) and Lincoln County (5).

Oklahoma holds 44 licensed records, the 43rd most recorded of 50 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from LeFlore County, Atoka County and Cherokee County. Next come Pushmataha County (3) and Choctaw County (2).

Florida holds 41 licensed records, the 35th most recorded of 49 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Florida come from Gulf County, Palm Beach County and Alachua County. Next come Collier County (3) and Liberty County (3).

Louisiana holds 41 licensed records, the joint 20th most recorded of 41 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Louisiana come from Saint Tammany Parish, Livingston Parish and Jefferson Parish. Next come Morehouse Parish (3) and Plaquemines Parish (3).

New Jersey holds 41 licensed records, the joint 7th most recorded of 18 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in New Jersey come from Hunterdon County, Morris County and Somerset County. Next come Atlantic County (6) and Sussex County (3).

South Dakota holds 31 licensed records, the joint 12th most recorded of 16 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in South Dakota come from Custer County, Clay County and Hughes County. Next come Charles Mix County (2) and Lyman County (2).

The eastern milksnake record leans on older material: only 28% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1979. The oldest dated record is from 1860; the busiest year was 2025, with 152 records.

Of the 305 counties where the eastern milksnake is most recorded, 171 are also top counties for the common garter snake, more than for any other snake. Venomous species among its neighbors: the eastern copperhead.

Other species of the genus Lampropeltis with profiles here: California kingsnake, Prairie kingsnake, Eastern kingsnake, Speckled kingsnake, California mountain kingsnake, Mole kingsnake, Central plains milksnake and Eastern black kingsnake.