Foxsnakes are excellent climbers and can often be found foraging in shrubs and trees. Individuals likely reach maturity in their third year and can live for close to 20 years. In parts of southwestern Ontario where suitable nesting habitat is scarce, several females may use the same nesting site. The Eastern Foxsnake breeds in May and June and females typically lay 15–20 eggs, which hatch in the late summer or early fall. This species hibernates below the frost line in rock crevices, animal burrows or anthropogenic structures such as old foundations or wells. Although foxsnsakes still occur in some human-dominated landscape in southwestern Ontario, they avoid areas of intensive agricultural, such as corn and soybean fields. Females lay their eggs in rotten logs, stumps, decaying leaf piles and other features with appropriate temperature and humidity. This species also uses forests, primarily as movement corridors. In the Georgian Bay area, Foxsnakes are typically only found within 1 km of the shoreline.Įastern Foxsnakes generally use open habitats such as shorelines, prairies, savannahs, rock barrens, forest clearings or edges and wetlands. Although the species also occurs in Michigan and Ohio, a large proportion of the global distribution of this species occurs in Canada. In Ontario, the Eastern Foxsnake is found in two widely separated populations, one is scattered throughout parts of southwestern Ontario, and one along the eastern shores of Georgian Bay and associated Islands. The reddish-orange colour of the adult’s head has also resulted in the name “copperhead”, which is confusing because a Copperhead is an altogether different species found in the U.S. This behaviour, combined with the snake’s blotchy patterning, causes people to mistake it for a rattlesnake. When threatened, the Eastern Foxsnake vibrates its tail and, especially when it comes into contact with dry vegetation, makes a buzzing or “rattling” sound. The Massasauga has a stout body, usually a rattle on a blunt tail, vertical pupils and a triangular head. The Eastern Hog-nosed Snake has a distinct upturned snout and robust body. The Milksnake can appear very similar to young foxsnakes, though the Milksnake has smooth scales and a distinct black outline around each blotch. The Northern Watersnake’s patterning consists of horizontal banding rather than blotches and in larger adults is often very faint on a much darker background. The Eastern Foxsnake may be confused with the Northern Watersnake, Milksnake, Eastern Hog-nosed Snake and the Massasauga. The Eastern Foxsnake is a large snake that can reach a length of up to 1.8 m, although most individuals are smaller. The scales of this species are lightly keeled and its anal plate is divided. Young juveniles usually have a grey head and body with dark-bordered reddish brown blotches on the back and sides, and a white to grey belly with blotches. Its belly, which is also yellow, has alternating brown to black patches. Adults and subadults have a reddish brown head with dark bars around the eyes and a yellow chin. The Eastern Foxsnake is yellow to light brown with large, dark brown blotches down the back and two alternating rows of smaller blotches along the sides. Click for more images Eastern Foxsnake Pantherophis vulpinus Family: Colubridae COSEWIC status:
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