Facts about Fox Snakes
The fox snake is the common name given to two species of non-venomous snake. The western fox snake occurs in the open forests, prairies, and farmlands of western Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. The eastern fox snake ranges in the states of Ohio and eastern Michigan, and the Canadian province of Ontario in flat, marshy areas along the shores of Lake Huron and Lake Erie. The regions of eastern fox snake and western fox snake are not known to overlap. The state of Michigan lists the eastern fox snake as threatened, largely due to habitat loss. Like many colubrid snakes, when harassed fox snake will vibrate their tails, which frequently results in them to be mistaken for rattlesnakes. Fox snakes are primarily diurnal and terrestrial, rodent feeding snakes, but sometimes will also eat birds, rabbits, and juveniles often consume frogs and other small animals. They kill their prey by constriction. Their mating occurs in the late spring and early summer months. Fox snakes are extremely docile towards humans, and are not aggressive, even if cornered. They are considered to be an excellent snake to keep as a pet. The western fox snake is listed by the state of Missouri as endangered due to prairie loss and wetland drainage. The fox snake is capable of releasing a musky anal secretion which purportedly smells fox-like, hence their name. In the winter months fox snakes will hibernate, often congregating with other snakes, even those of other species, in suitable den sites. A clutch averaging 15-20 eggs is laid in mid summer and normally hatches in early fall. In Ontario the eastern fox snake is listed as threatened and protected by the Species At Risk Act (SARA). |
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