Eastern Foxsnake
(Pantherophis gloydi)
Status: Endangered (COSEWIC 2008), Endangered- Carolinian population (ESA 2009), Threatened- Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population (ESA 2009)
Species Identification:
The Eastern Foxsnake is one of Ontario’s largest snake species, reaching lengths of up to 1.7 metres. They have golden/brown colouring, large dark brown blotches that run dorsally across the length of the body, and smaller dark brown blotches that alternate laterally along the body. Juveniles often appear grey in colour but as they age they will turn golden/brown. Their head is often varied in colour from a red hue to brown depending on the individual, and a dark line runs from the eye to the jaw.
Diet:
Eastern Foxsnakes prey primarily on small mammals (especially rodents), young birds and bird eggs. While they will swallow smaller prey whole, the Eastern Foxsnake is also a constrictor species, which means once captured they will wrap their bodies around large prey to suffocate them. They will either actively hunt for their prey, or ambush them by sitting and waiting. Juvenile Eastern Foxsnakes will eat frogs and insects until they are large enough to consume larger prey.
Habitat and Range:
The Land Between region towards the Georgian Bay Coast, as well pockets of southwestern Ontario are remaining habitats for this species.
The Eastern Foxsnake is only found in Ontario, Michigan, and Ohio. Ontario populations make up 70% of their total population, and their numbers are rapidly declining. The Ontario populations are separated into two distinct sub-populations, which are the Carolinian population and the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population. The Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population is now limited to only the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, which is within The Land Between. The Carolinian population is also only limited to Essex-Kent County and Haldimand-Norfolk County.
Eastern Foxsnakes prefer shoreline habitat that connects with open forest edge habitat- which is mainly used for foraging, travel, and thermoregulation. They have also been known to inhabit largely unforested lands such as prairies, savannahs, rock barrens, marshes and beach dunes. They are also tolerant of human landscapes and often utilize man-made structures for foraging, thermoregulation, and hibernation. The Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population tends to stay within 1-2 km of the shoreline. This is mainly due to the quality and abundance of the shoreline habitat in the region. Land that is composed mainly of rocky outcroppings, varied tree cover and open edge forest habitat seems to be preferred. The Carolinian population does not show the same propensity for water access as their Georgian Bay counterparts. This is mainly due to the loss of wetland habitat across Southern Ontario as well as farther distances between islands in Lake Erie.
Biology and Behaviour:
Eastern Foxsnakes emerge from hibernation in mid April to late May and mate from late May to mid June. Males reach maturity at around 5 years old, whereas females will mature at around 3. Females can lay up to 30 eggs, but numbers are generally between 15 and 20. Eggs will hatch in 1-2 months and are generally 25-30 cm long. Eastern Foxsnakes will hibernate either communally or individually in rock crevices/fissures, animal burrows, or human structures such as septic bed tiles and building foundations. They will hibernate starting in either September or October until early spring.
Eastern Foxsnakes are fantastic swimmers and climbers which allows them to traverse coastlines with ease and hunt both terrestrial and aquatic prey. Eastern Fox-snakes are very docile, but when threatened they can release a foul smelling musk to deter predators, and may rattle their tail. Predators of this species include large birds of prey, domestic pets, fishers, and raccoons.
Similar Species:
- Northern Watersnakes have banding instead of blotches along their sides, with much darker colouring
- Milksnakes have red blotches with distinct black outlining around them
- Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes have an upturned snout
- Massasauga Rattlesnakes have a blunt edged tail with a rattle, a triangular head, and are much smaller as adults
Additional Resources:
- Ontario Nature’s Eastern Foxsnake page
- Government of Ontario’s SAR page on the Eastern Foxsnake
- The Eastern Foxsnake species page from Nature Conservancy Canada
- Georgian Bay Biosphere’s Species at Risk database
Sources:
COSEWIC. 2008. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Eastern Foxsnake Elaphe gloydi, Carolinian population and Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population, in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vii + 45 pp. (www.sararegistry.gc.ca/status/status_e.cfm).
Ontario Nature. N.d. Eastern Foxsnake. Retrieved from https://ontarionature.org/programs/community-science/reptile-amphibian-atlas/eastern-foxsnake/
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