The Eastern Foxsnake (Pantherophis vulpinus) is a non-venomous constrictor in Colubridae family. It still has a foothold in the Long Point region despite its very limited global range (70% of their range is in Ontario). Threats to these non-venomous and rather passive snakes include road mortality, habitat loss and human persecution.

Description 

The Eastern Foxsnakes are the third largest species of snake in Ontario, growing up to 170 cm in length after Grey Ratsnakes and Blue Racers (Coluber constrictor foxii, which is endemic to Pelee Island in Canada). The head is orange and noticeably wider than the neck. It has dark bars around the eyes. The body is typically golden, rusty, or light brown, with a series of dark brown blotches along the back. Juvenile snakes are grey-brown and less colourful than adults.

Within the Long Point Region, Foxsnakes can be found within a wide range of different ecosystems. Their primary habitat is not dense forests (unlike Grey Ratsnakes), but rather open woodlands, oak savannas, marsh edges, shoreline dunes (such as those on the Long Point Peninsula), and tallgrass prairies. Home ranges are around 50 acres in size, but can be significantly larger for some individuals, especially breeding males. Many individuals will disperse kilometers from their hibernaculum (hibernation site) for the breeding purposes. They are adept climbers, which allows them to efficiently forage for prey in their woodland habitat.

Eastern Foxsnakes feed on a variety of prey, most often rodents, such as deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), woodland voles (Microtus pinetorum), and chipmunks (Tamias striatus). After capturing their prey, foxnsakes constrict their food before consumption. Foxsnakes are primarily diurnal – active during the daylight hours. Predators are also similar to those of ratsnakes, and primarily consist of raptors (Acciptriformes, Falconiformes), and medium-sized carnivores (Carnivora), especially weasels (Mustelidae) and racoons (Procyon lotur), though these snakes are not a preferred food source.

Eastern Foxsnakes breed late May to early July. Males will often chase female foxsnakes until they are receptive to mating behaviours. 30 days following copulation, female foxsnakes will lay between 6-30 eggs in moist locations. These can be natural features such as rotting logs, or in the leaf litter, but egg laying habitat can also be in human features such as boards or building foundations. In October, when temperature begin to drop rapidly, Foxsnakes will pursue communal underground hibernation sites – hibernacula. These sites are typically sheltered from winter frosts and offer protection from predators. Abandoned animal burrows and human-made structures are commonly used as hibernacula in the Long Point Region. In the Georgian Bay area, where the substrate is Precambrian Bedrock of the Canadian Shield, deep cracks are often utilized as hibernacula.

As normal for reptiles, Eastern Foxsnakes are ectothermic – they rely on the external environment to regulate body temperature. Foxsnakes regularly bask to raise body temperature, allowing various physiological processes to become more efficient. These include digestion, movement and activity (faster at optimal temperature), and improved egg development in females. Basking locations are typically open, exposed surfaces – such as rocks, stumps, and bare ground. They are also attracted to concrete – which mimics their natural basking habitat. Since many different reptile species are also attracted to concrete, this makes roadways a common hazard and mortality site for Long Point’s reptiles.

When threatened by predators, Eastern Foxsnakes will mimic rattlesnakes. They will move rapidly, shaking and vibrating  their tails. When their tails come in contact with grass or leaves, they often make a rattling sound. This adaption is called Batesian mimicry, when a harmless species mimics the behaviours or appearance of poisonous species to deter predators.

To learn more about the ecology of the Eastern Fox Snake, check out the Ontario Nature’s Reptile and Amphibian Atlas (https://catalog.ontarionature.org/ontario-reptile-and-amphibian-atlas/page/208-209). Recently published in 2024, this ~300-page guide offers a plethora of comprehensive and informative content on herpetology, including detailed descriptions of the physical form and ecology of each species. Distribution maps are also provided for most species.

Fun facts

• Fox snakes can release a foul odour from the glands near the cloaca – a defence mechanism against predators.
• These snakes specialize in hunting rodents – making them a valuable natural pest control species!
• The name “fox snake” is thought to refer to their reddish-brown head and blotches on the back, reminiscent of the fur of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes).
• Eastern Foxsnakes live up to 20 years in the wild, making them relatively long-lived for a snake species.
• Foxsnakes, like other snake species, will utilize their forked tongues to pick up scent, allowing them to precisely detect the location of their prey!

Conservation Update

Recent research by Long Point Biosphere Region in collaboration with the University of Waterloo has shed new light on critical threats to the Eastern Foxsnake — and how to address them. By analysing 50 years of records, the team discovered that foxsnake sightings tend to concentrate where natural wildlife corridors or streams intersect with certain roadways.

These findings have important implications for conservation planning. They highlight priority areas for mitigation measures such as wildlife-friendly fencing and specially designed riparian bridge crossings with funneling wing-walls — infrastructure that can help guide snakes safely across roads and reduce road-mortality, one of the biggest risks for the species.

Community participation remains vital. Learning to recognize Eastern Foxsnakes, reporting sightings (alive or deceased) — for example via the platform iNaturalist — and exercising caution when driving through habitat areas all contribute valuable data and help prevent accidental killings.

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The species you’ve just read about—and the ecosystems they depend on—need our protection. Support the work of the Long Point Basin Land Trust and help preserve the wild spaces of the Long Point Basin: https://longpointlandtrust.ca/donate

To view a directory of all species featured on our website, visit: https://longpointlandtrust.ca/featured-species

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Written by Matthew Palarchio, HBSc in Environmental Sciences, Western University

Photos Credits (L-R): Stock Photo from Canva, Matthew Palarchio