The Eastern Foxsnake (Pantherophis vulpinus) is a non-venomous constrictor in Colubridae family, alongside the Black Rat Snake (Pantherophis spiloides). Of the two species, Foxsnakes are more widely distributed in Ontario – they are found throughout the Lake Erie Region (Rondeau, Pelee, and the Long Point Basin) and the east coast of Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay. Ratsnakes are restricted to Long Point Basin and Frontenac. Foxsnakes are much more commonly observed than Ratsnakes in the Long Point Basin – though both populations are designated as Endangered on COSSARO.

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.

Like Grey Ratsnakes, 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  – I would recommend reading 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 specialise 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!

 

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

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

 

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