Lampropeltis elapsoides
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
The scarlet kingsnake (Lampropeltis elapsoides) is a species of kingsnake found in the southeastern and eastern portions of the United States. Like all kingsnakes, they are nonvenomous. They are found in pine flatwoods, hydric hammocks, pine savannas, mesic pine-oak forests, prairies, cultivated fields, and a variety of suburban habitats; not unusually, people find scarlet kingsnakes in their swimming pools, especially during the spring.
Until recently, and for much of the 20th century, scarlet kingsnakes were considered a subspecies of the milk snake; however, Pyron and Bubrink demonstrated the phylogenetic distinction of this species and its closer relationship to the mountain kingsnakes of the southwestern United States.
These largely fossorial snakes are the smallest of all the species within the genus Lampropeltis, usually ranging from 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in) at maturity. The maximum recorded length is in Jonesboro, AR 76.2 cm (30.0 in). Hatchlings range in size from 8 to 18 cm (3.1 to 7.1 in).
The generic name, Lampropeltis, is derived from the Ancient Greek lamprós (λαμπρος) meaning "shiny" and peltas (πελτας) meaning "shield", after the sheen of their scales... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moscow Zoo | 🇷🇺 Russia | |
| 2 | North Carolina Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | ZooTampa | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | La Aurora Zoo | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | |
| 6 | Тульский экзотариум (новая экспозиция) | 🇷🇺 Russia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Scarlet Milksnake sighting in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on a given day, based on 33 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 30th most-seen of the 35 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March–May and July–September
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Scarlet Milksnake in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on a given day, against under 5% in June and October–February, the lowest months.
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Scarlet Milksnake sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.
Among the best
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Scarlet Milksnake sightings, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Everglades National Park (United States, about 10%).
Same family: Colubridae
The closest relatives of the Scarlet Milksnake that you can see in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (family Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes) are North American Racer (about 30%), Banded Water Snake (about 20%) and Corn Snake (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Scarlet Milksnake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (33 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
