Eastern Milksnakes Laying Eggs

Eastern Milksnakes are harmless, but there are many misconceptions about them. Despite their name (given because their presence in cow barns led people to believe they drank from cow udders) Eastern Milksnakes feed on mice, not milk! Often killed because of their resemblance to Copperheads, Eastern Milksnakes are not poisonous. And although they do not resemble rattlesnakes, they are known to vibrate their tails in the leaves when threatened, which also contributes to their untimely death by humans.

These beautiful constrictors mate soon after emerging from hibernation.  An interesting phenomenon occurs with female Eastern Milksnakes.  In early summer (late June and early July) they gather at communal egg-laying sites and deposit their eggs within inches of each other.  This behavior is unusual for snakes, and why this occurs is not known. 

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