Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, new to this forum. I'll be moving to the VA coast next year, and would like to observe a coastal milk in the wild. In all the places that I have lived, I have seen the native milksnake. Although I know it might sound crazy, it took me four years to find a red milk in AR(but once I found an active locale, I saw one every time I went), and only five months to see my first(out of two) scarlet kings in FL. Are the habbits more similar to the eastern or the scarlet, or might they have there own unique behavor? I have many good feild guides, and have done much research on the subject, and now I'm looking for someone who might have personal experiance. I'm just hoping that this one(coastal) does not elude me as did syspila. Thank you for any tips that you can provide. thanks again-smokey

Va beach coastals are among the rarest of all milksnakes. I have hunted coastals along their whole range for 15 years and never sniffed one from there. There are herpers who have LIVED there their whole life and havent seen any! I would say that LESS than 1/year is found in the whole area by EVERYONE COMBINED! They are so rare that when you do find one it is everything you can do to ask EVERYONE else into milks who has a mate to arrange a breeding loan. Just ask STRETCHX....he found a Currituck,NC that is within 20 miles or so of Va beach(the other side of the dismal swamp)and had to BEG a preservationist(that is one that puts snakes INTO preservatives!!)not to euthanize another lucky specimen.I would not tell you to not try, but not too hard! It will make you crazy,Jeff

Thanks for the reply Jeff. I'll keep what you said in mind when my family asks me to commit myself to the local mental health clinic, covered with ticks and chiggers, and ranting and raving about the missing milk. But since I'll be in the DC area, has anyone had any luck in MD or NJ? Help me out and you'll be the first that I talk to WHEN I find an active locale.lol thanks again-Brett

There are several places within driving distance of DC but timing is everything...even more than the spot. Once you get the "feel"of successful weather they are much easier to find. But I doubt you will get ANYONE to give up a spot on here...you will have to do your homework and fieldwork like the rest of us,lol.Good luck,Jeff

They are there and those who know how to find them do so consistently. Problem is these guys aren't talking and the main two seem to have dropped off the face of the planet!

I have seen them consistantly in N.J.. Usually in the spring, commonly in pairs, always under cover.

n/p

I'm not really sure what a 'coastal milk' is, or even if such a creature could be clearly defined. I think it is nothing more than a east coast version of the 'red milk'. Seriously. Well, that is just my opinion. And I am not alone there in that thought process. If you guys from the east coast could 'define' what this animal is, I would love to be educated. Rock ON!