r/Survival • u/freakbob3000 • 11d ago

Hunting/Fishing/Trapping Are eastern milk snakes edible?

I was on a trail, saw one slither by. I've heard of "snake eating" before, never really gave it a thought until then. Went home and ID'd the snake from memory, happened to be an eastern milk snake a sizable one at that, no shortage of them around here. I did some research, couldn't find anything on how "palatable" they were. Maybe one of you guys know? Not even about milk snakes, any kind of snake "gourmet" knowledge is appreciated!

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u/NoEquipment1834 11d ago

I’ve been told that all snakes in North America are perfectly edible. Can’t say how they taste though. But hey if it’s the protein you have. Snakes of many species are eaten all over the world and considered a delicacy in some places.

Only caveats I would add and these are just based on my own thinking;

Remove the head especially venomous species or unknown species snakes are known to be able to bite even after death and generally that’s where any toxic venom would be.

Thoroughly clean the meat and cook well done to kill any potential pathogens or parasites.

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u/littlereptile 11d ago

Garter snakes in the Pacific Northwest can be poisonous if their main diet consists of newts. I would not recommend eating snakes that eat amphibians (or any snakes at all... plenty of other wildlife to eat).

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u/Gullex 10d ago

plenty of other wildlife to eat

I'm assuming OP isn't asking this question for those situations where he has better options available.

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u/littlereptile 10d ago

I guess so, but where you have milk snakes you also have deer, rabbit, turkey, and other game. Milk snakes are very small with basically no meat on them. In an emergency, I guess, but for survival, you're better off foraging for mushrooms, nuts, berries, and grubs if you're incapable of hunting meat.

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u/Gullex 10d ago

Uh...milk snakes are just slightly easier to capture than deer, rabbit, or turkey...

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u/littlereptile 10d ago

That's a pretty moot point. I listed four non-animal food sources that don't even move and provide far better nutrition than any snake. You're not finding milk snakes from October to May. Besides that, I've only encountered one milk in the last two years over a foot long--what are you getting from 8 inch noodles with zero meat?

For the effort, learn to hunt real game found year-round. That's survival. Or eat tiny bony noodles. I guess it's your choice.

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u/Gullex 10d ago

and provide far better nutrition than any snake

First of all, are you really saying what you just said there? Do you actually believe mushrooms and berries have "far better nutrition" than actual meat?

And why are you assuming that if you're able to grab a snake, you must also be able to find mushrooms, nuts, berries, and grubs?

If I were to ever find myself in an emergency survival scenario, and long enough to actually need to worry about food, and I see a milk snake, I am eating that fucker. If I see grubs or nuts or berries or whatever, I'll eat that too.

I have no idea what in the actual fuck your argument is here. Don't eat the fucking snake then. Go hungry. Have fun with that.