Harmless · North Carolina
Eastern Milksnake
Lampropeltis triangulum
Gray or tan snake with reddish-brown blotches bordered in dark pigment.
At a glance
Size
Usually 24-36 inches.
North Carolina range
Mountains, Piedmont
Habitat
rocky woods, farms, fields
Diet
Mice, shrews, small snakes, lizards, birds, and eggs.
Pattern
blotches
Venomous
No
How to identify it
Gray or tan snake with reddish-brown, dark-bordered blotches and a pale belly patterned with black checks.
Where to look in North Carolina
Found mainly in the Mountains and Piedmont.
Rocky woods, farms, fields, barns, and woodland edges.
Regional maps show broad physiographic provinces, not county-level records.
Photo guide
Use the gallery to check pattern, body shape, and context—not just overall color.
