Corn snake vs Milk snake Pictures, Identification

Much of their time corn snakes spend underground or concealed under items such as logs, boards, or roofing tin pieces. They climb well and adults are often found hiding or climbing in brush under tree bark. Corn snakes are active during day and night, but in the hot summer months they become mainly nocturnal. They eat a variety of mammalian species, birds , and reptiles, and young snakes are especially fond of reptiles. In the spring, corn snakes lay large clutches of oval eggs in rotten logs or in other hot , humid areas. 

Corn snakes are known for the pattern that represents maize, an ancestor of modern day corn, of their belly scales. It is understood that they are strong climbers and escape makers. Corn snakes are sometimes mistaken for copperheads that are poisonous. However, copperheads have blotches that are hourglass-shaped (rather than square), and are commonly paler than corn snakes. 

The corn snake makes an excellent pet snake, taking its name from the corn granaries that attracted mice and then these mouse predators. Particularly for beginner snake owners, it is typically obedient, comparatively straightforward to care for, and does not get very large; it is a great option. However, due to the variety of beautiful colours and patterns that targeted, captive breeding has created, these reptiles are also favourites of even experienced keepers. Corn snakes, closely related to rat snakes (as cousins of the Elaphe genus), are also called red rat snakes. They are indigenous to the U.S. southeast, are predominantly land-dwelling, and are primarily active at dusk and dawn.

From light brown to green, the Eastern Milksnakes have black-edged, red to reddish-brown speckles down the back. They have a striped black and white design on their bellies. There are smooth scales and a single anal plate on these modestly-sized snakes.

Milksnakes have a total length of 2.5 feet on generally, but large adults can reach 3 feet.

There are eastern milksnakes in all of Kentucky. They can be found in open areas, as well as in woods and woodland margins, such as agricultural fields and meadows. Eastern milksnakes favor debris fields around barns in the External and Internal Bluegrass Areas.

In the spring, milksnakes mate, although some individuals also breed in the fall and store sperm the following spring to fertilize eggs. In early summer, eggs are laid, and early fall hatchlings are conspicuous. Milksnakes feed primarily on rodents.

While they will vibrate their tails, emit musk, strike and bite if threatened, Eastern Milksnakes are nonvenomous. Many individuals assume that milksnakes suck milk from cows (hence the common name "Milksnake") because of their common occurrence inside barns. This is a myth, however. Snakes (like all reptiles) are unable to digest lactose.