Fox Snake
Pantherophis vulpinus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: Pantherophis vulpinus
North America, primarily found in the upper Midwest of the United States and parts of southern Ontario, Canada, inhabiting regions around the Great Lakes.
Look up Fox Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: Pantherophis vulpinus
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, though local populations face threats from habitat fragmentation, road mortality, and intentional killing due to misidentification.
Physical Description
Exhibits a pattern of dark brown to black blotches running down a yellowish-brown or greyish dorsal background, with smaller alternating spots along the sides. The head is distinctively wider than the neck, sometimes showing a reddish or coppery hue. Scales are weakly keeled, and the body is moderately robust.
Size & Dimensions
The pictured specimen appears to be a subadult or small adult, measuring approximately 60 to 90 cm. Typical adult size ranges from 90 to 135 cm, with maximum recorded lengths reaching up to 175 cm.
Habitat
Found in a variety of habitats including pine barrens, prairies, marshes, farmlands, and forest edges, ranging from sea level to moderate elevations, frequently utilizing cover objects like rocks, logs, and artificial structures.
Diet & Feeding
Preys primarily on small mammals such as mice and voles, as well as birds and their eggs. Utilizes active foraging and constriction to subdue active prey.
Reproduction
Oviparous species, females typically deposit clutches of 7 to 27 eggs in mid-summer within decaying vegetation, loose soil, or under logs, with incubation lasting around 60 to 70 days.
Look-alikes
Frequently confused with the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake due to similar dorsal blotching and the habit of vibrating the tail when alarmed, but can be distinguished by round pupils, lack of facial pits, and a lack of a rattle.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, though local populations face threats from habitat fragmentation, road mortality, and intentional killing due to misidentification.
Cultural Significance
Beneficial to agricultural ecosystems by serving as a natural form of pest control through the predation of rodent populations.
Notable Features
Known for releasing a strong musk when handled and vibrating its tail rapidly in dry leaf litter to mimic the sound of a rattlesnake as a defensive display.