Eastern Foxsnake

 

Eastern Foxsnake  (Pantherophis gloydi)– Status: Endangered

The Eastern Foxsnake is a large snake, reaching over 1.7 metres in length. This beautiful snake usually has a shiny, rusty orange head and a golden to light brown body with dark blotches. The belly is light yellow and black.  

Eastern Foxsnakes in the Carolinian population are usually found near water, marshes, and shorelines. Females lay their eggs in rotting logs, manure or compost piles, which naturally incubate the eggs until they hatch. Individuals from the Georgian Bay population are usually found within 150 metres of the shore in rocky habitats spotted with trees and shrubs. During the winter, Eastern Foxsnakes hibernate in groups in deep cracks in the bedrock and in some man-made structures.

   

The Eastern Foxsnake eats rodents, birds and frogs which they kill by constriction. Eastern Foxsnakes are also excellent swimmers. They are not aggressive and rarely bite.