Copperhead vs Eastern Milk Snake: What are the Differences?

The copperhead and the eastern milk snake have many differences and similarities between them. Although both snakes are North American species, copperheads are pit vipers, while eastern milk snakes are colubrids, and this is perhaps where the majority of their differences stem. Despite this, they have unique similarities, such as their cannibalistic tendencies. Below, we will explore the major differences between the copperhead and the eastern milk snake.

Comparing the Copperhead and Eastern Milk Snake

Key Differences Between The Copperhead and Eastern Milk Snake

The major differences between the copperhead and eastern milk snake lie in their families, modes of attack and defense, their temperaments, and of course, their looks. However, they are of similar lengths and have similar diet choices. Let’s discuss some of these differences and similarities in detail. 

Copperhead Vs. Eastern Milk Snake: Morphology

Copperheads and eastern milk snakes have similar lengths but look distinctively different. For one, copperheads are easy to identify by their copper or orange-red heads. They have pale brown to pinkish-brown skin, patterned by copper to reddish-brown hourglass-shaped markings.

Eastern milk snakes are tan or grayish brown with black-bordered brown blotches. They also have black and white checkered bellies, while copperheads’ are brown, white, or yellow with dark spots along their sides. However, these snakes have similar lengths. On average, copperheads measure 20-37 inches long, while eastern milk snakes measure 24 – 36 inches long.

Copperhead Vs. Eastern Milk Snake: Modes of Attack 

Copperheads are a pit viper species, while eastern milk snakes are a colubrid species. This means that both snakes go after and kill their prey differently. On one hand, copperheads are venomous stalk and ambush hunters, and because of their pit organs which all pit vipers have, they have infrared vision. This gives them an edge when hunting and surviving in the wild. When they swoop in on their prey, they clamp down with their solenoglyphous fangs and bite them to inject their hemotoxic venom into their bodies. 

Eastern milk snakes, on the other hand, are constrictors. They are subspecies of kingsnakes, a species of constrictors notorious for eating other snakes. Although eastern milk snakes are opportunistic feeders, they are also adept hunters. They sweep in and wrap their bodies around their prey, squeazing them until their heart stops.

Copperhead Vs. Eastern Milk Snake: Modes of Defense

Copperheads and eastern milk snakes emit musk defensively when threatened or picked up. This musk is often mixed with feces, enhancing its repugnant stench, which is very hard to get rid of. However, since copperheads are venomous, there is a good chance that they could bite instead. Luckily, their venom is not extremely toxic.

This doesn’t mean that copperheads cannot kill people; they can. However, if the victim receives medical care quickly, the odds of survival are high.

Copperheads bite more people than any other snake in the USA and still kill an average of 1 person every four years, which is very low compared to other snakes. With smaller animals, however, once they are clamped between a copperhead’s jaws, it’s pretty much game over.

Eastern milk snakes differ from copperheads in this regard. Their teeth are rather small and inward bent, so a bite from them would result in only a little scrape. Consequently, they are more likely to spray musk defensively. However, they are docile and often kept as pets. Younger eastern milk snakes might be a bit skittish, but they become accustomed to handling rather easily as they get older.

Copperhead Vs. Eastern Milk Snake: Habitats

Both snakes occupy a variety of habitats. Copperheads are often found in rocky outcrops, deciduous forests, abandoned buildings, and swampy regions. In the colder months, they can be dens or limestone crevices. They also inhabit coniferous forests and several other habitats.

This trait is shared by eastern milk snakes, which can be found in deciduous forests, swamps, fields, rocky hillsides, farmland, barns, etc. However, eastern milk snakes are only found in a handful of states, such as Maine, Alabama, and North Carolina, while copperheads are more widely spread and are found in almost every American state.

Copperhead Vs. Eastern Milk Snake: Diet

Copperheads and eastern milk snakes are both cannibals, eating other snakes of their kind. They are known to eat smaller venomous and non-venomous snakes and also have a similar diet. Juvenile eastern milk snakes feed on slugs, crickets, earthworms, and other insects. Similarly, juvenile copperheads feed on caterpillars and other insects.

Copperheads are born venomous with bright-tipped tails with which they lure their prey. When copperheads swallow their prey, their hemotoxic venom helps them break down the prey’s tissue for digestion. However, eastern milk snakes rely only on their stomach acids to do the job.

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