Western Fox Snake
Pantherophis ramspotti • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: P. ramspotti
Natural range includes the Upper Midwest of the United States, specifically west of the Mississippi River in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Missouri.
Look up Western Fox Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Non-venomous (Aglyphous)
Danger Level
Harmless. They are not dangerous to humans but may strike and vibrate their tail if threatened.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: P. ramspotti
Conservation
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. Major threats include habitat loss due to agriculture and roads, and persecution by humans due to their resemblance to venomous species.
Physical Description
Large snake with a base color of tan or light brown, marked with bold dark brown or black blotches along the back. The head is often a solid rusty or copper color, which sometimes leads to confusion with copperheads. Scales are weakly keeled.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen in the image appears to be an adult, approximately 3 to 4 feet in length. The species typically ranges from 36 to 54 inches (91-137 cm) with a maximum record of about 70 inches.
Habitat
Typically found in open habitats such as prairies, grasslands, agricultural fields, and woodland edges. They are often found near water sources or in moist marshy areas.
Behavior & Temperament
Generally docile but very prone to defensive displays. When threatened, they often vibrate their tails rapidly in dry leaves to mimic a rattlesnake sound and may release a musky odor. Active primarily during the day (diurnal).
Diet & Feeding
Active foragers that primarily consume small mammals (rodents), birds, and occasionally bird eggs. They kill their prey using constriction.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying). Females typically lay clutches of 7 to 29 eggs in mid-summer, which hatch in late summer or early autumn.
Venom Profile
Non-venomous - no medically significant venom.
Look-alikes
Often confused with the Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) due to the reddish head, or the Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer) and Rattlesnakes due to pattern and tail-vibrating behavior.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. Major threats include habitat loss due to agriculture and roads, and persecution by humans due to their resemblance to venomous species.
Cultural Significance
Valued by farmers for their role in natural pest control, as they consume large quantities of crop-damaging rodents. Noted in regional folklore for their copper-colored heads.
Notable Features
Noted for their 'fox-like' musk scent released when handled defensively and their striking copper-colored head which lacks the characteristic pits or vertical pupils of a true pit viper.