Milk snakes are like other kingsnakes, in that they kill their prey by suffocating them and then swallowing them whole. They hunt at night and prey upon other, smaller snakes, snake eggs, rodents, birds, bird eggs, and lizards. They are hardly ever seen during the day and prefer to hide under logs during the heat of the day. The milksnake breeds in early spring and lays 2 to 17 eggs that hatch in 28 to 39 days. The newly-hatched look identical to the fully-grown adults, though are much brighter. They have smooth shiny scales with black-bordered brown-red markings on a tan or whitish-gray background. The eastern milksnake of Arkansas is found mostly in the northern region of the state. Eastern milksnake Eastern milksnake image by Peter Paplanus via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 When threatened, kingsnakes will shake their tail like a rattlesnake and expel foul-smelling musk and feces.ģ. They prefer wet moist environments and like to hide under rocks, logs, and what could be considered junk. Speckled kingsnakes live in heavy woodlands to open prairie and lowlands.

They are also resistant to the venom of pit-vipers and commonly eat rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths with no ill effects. Similar to other types of kingsnakes, this species eats other snakes, lizards, rodents, birds, and turtle eggs. Kingsnakes typically mate in the spring and lay 3-24 eggs which hatch in early August or September. Speckled kingsnakes are black with yellow spots, and their belly is checkered with bold yellow and black blocks. They are also called flecked snakes or salt and pepper snakes. The speckled kingsnake is a subspecies of the eastern kingsnake and can be found in north Arkansas. Speckled kingsnake Speckled king snake image by Peter Paplanus via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 They kill their prey by quickly suffocating it.Ģ. These snakes are not considered dangerous since they don’t have venom. Though they are routinely killed by people who mistake them for copperhead snakes, they are still common. The prairie kingsnake is classified as being of Least Concern. They like to live in fields, prairies, woodlots, and rocky hillsides. The prairie kingsnake eats mice and other small mammals, but they have also been known to eat lizards, smaller snakes, amphibians, small birds, and sometimes insects. They typically hunt during the day, but during the peak of summer, they actually become more nocturnal. 6 to 18 eggs are laid, but won’t hatch until August or September. Their mating season is in early spring, after coming out of their winter dormancy. The young are vibrantly spotted, which fades over time. The belly is a cream or yellow color with brown blotches. This elusive snake is usually tan to brownish gray, with brown or rusty blotches down the back. They can grow up to 4 and a half feet in total length. They’re found in scattered locations all throughout the state. The prairie kingsnake is also known as the yellow-bellied kingsnake. Scientific name: Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster Prairie kingsnake Prairie king snake image by Peter Paplanus via Flickr | CC BY 2.0

The 5 types of kingsnakes found in Arkansas are the prairie kingsnake, the speckled kingsnake, eastern milk snake, western milk snake, and the Louisiana milk snake. Remember, milk snakes fall under the kingsnake Genus so they’ll be included on this list. In this article, we’ll learn about the 5 species of kingsnakes in Arkansas. This gives kingsnakes a variety of habitats in which to live and hunt. The Ozark and Ouachita mountains lie to the north and west, while the eastern land is flat, rich, and laced with rivers.

The state of Arkansas provides a diverse landscape. They are snake-eaters, which is why they are called kingsnakes. All kingsnakes are non-venomous constrictors that feed primarily on other snakes, even venomous ones. In this article though, we’ll be looking at the kingsnakes in Arkansas. Arkansas, like most other states in America, is home to many different types of snakes.

Juvenile milksnake