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Western Fox Snake Common Name: Western Fox Snake Scientific Name: Elaphe Vulpina Information Sheet - Western Fox Snake
Description:The Western Fox Snake has a large body measuring 40-50 inches in length. Elaphe vulpina is the scientific name for the Western Fox Snake. Its main shade of color is yellow. It has black spots on its sides, which produce an attractive pattern. Young Western Fox snakes have a grey color that darkens with maturity. It has a large head and wide eyes.Habitat:The Western Fox Snake occurs in grasslands in addition to farmland areas. It prefers dry environments to wet surroundings.Geographic distribution:Western Fox Snake occurs in various states such as Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa as well as Wisconsin.Behavior:The Western Fox Snake is active during the day therefore it is classified as diurnal. It hunts a wide variety of prey that includes birds, bats, rodents and small reptiles such as lizards, geckos and newts. When confronted, it vibrates its tail to scare away predators. It is named Fox Snake because its feces have a similar smell to a fox’s defecation. It hibernates during the winter to generate heat. During this period, it exhibits limited physiologic activity. This saves its energy store because it does not feed during this period. Western Fox Snakes have a docile character. Due to this, they rarely bite.Reproduction:Western Fox Snake does not reproduce during winter because its offspring cannot cope with cold weather. It reproduces during spring and summer when temperatures are high. A female Western Fox Snake lays an average of 15 eggs during summer.Captivity:Western Fox Snakes are extremely docile and rarely attack humans even when provoked. Due to this character, many people prefer it as a pet. Since the Western Fox Snake is an endangered species, environmentalists have established conservation centers that serve to protect it from extinction. When one captures this snake species, one must provide conditions similar to its natural habitat to guarantee its survival. |
