Even after they are picked up, they may casually turn and chew on fingers or the arm of the person holding it. They also vibrate their tails and release musk. Food Milk snakes feed on a wide variety of animals including mice, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, reptile eggs, birds and birds eggs. They are a type of kingsnake and will consume venomous snakes when they chance upon them. They are at least partially immune to the venom of the venomous snakes in their range and many venomous serpents will use defensive tactics other than biting to protect themselves from kingsnakes.
Adults consume mainly rodents.
Milk snakes are constrictors and kill their food by suffocation. Milk snakes are so named because it was once believed that these snakes would enter barns and steal milk from cows. They would become sick if they were to drink cows milk. The milk snakes were in the barns actually helping the farmers by looking for rodents to eat.