Pantherophis gloydi
Eastern fox snake
Photo by Craig A. Weatherby
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Key Characteristics

The Eastern Fox Snake is large (adult length 3 - 5.5 feet/0.9-1.7 m), boldly patterned snake with large dark brown or black blotches down the middle of the back and smaller, alternating blotches along the sides of a yellowish to light brown body. The underside is yellowish checkered with dark squarish spots. The head can be yellow, light brown to reddish brown and is generally unmarked except for a dark band between the eyes on the top of the head and a few dark bands extending from the eye down to the mouth. Juvenile Eastern Fox Snakes are paler in color than the adults and have gray or brown blotches bordered in black on the back and more distinctive head markings.

Status and Rank

  • State Status: T - Threatened (legally protected)
  • State Rank: S2 - Imperiled
  • Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable

Occurrences

County NameNumber of OccurrencesYear Last Observed
Huron21936
Iosco11997
Macomb21991
Monroe92007
Saginaw112006
St. Clair52007
Wayne81994
Occurrence Map for [Sname]

Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.

Habitat

The Eastern Fox Snake inhabits emergent wetlands along Great Lakes shorelines and associated large rivers and impoundments. They prefer habitats with herbaceous vegetation such as cattails (Typha spp.). Although primarily an open wetland species, Eastern Fox Snakes also occupy drier habitats such as vegetated dunes and beaches, old fields, and open woodlands. They also are able to utilize disturbed areas such as farm fields, pastures, woodlots, vacant urban lots, rock riprap, ditches, dikes, and residential properties. Eastern Fox Snakes are usually found near water, and are capable of swimming long distances over open offshore waters and between islands. This species deposits its eggs in or under the soil, woody debris, sawdust piles, decaying vegetation and mammal burrows, and hibernates in abandoned mammal burrows, muskrat lodges or other suitable shelters.

Specific Habitat Needs

Downed woody debris needed in Lakeplain wet-mesic prairie, Emergent marsh, Open dunes, Sand and gravel beach, Mesic sand prairie, Mesic southern forest, Lakeplain oak openings, Great Lakes marsh, Lakeplain wet prairie

Natural Community Types

Management

Protection and management of remaining populations and habitat are crucial for conservation of this species in Michigan. Maintaining or restoring large, suitable wetland complexes and minimizing habitat fragmentation (e.g., due to roads or development) would greatly benefit this species. Management of wetland habitats should include maintaining open conditions, providing adequate nesting sites as well as refugia for young snakes by maintaining and/or providing adequate cover (e.g., downed woody debris) and maintaining suitable hibernacula. Management activities such as prescribed burning and mowing should be conducted during the inactive season (i.e., November through March or early April) or on days when the snakes are unlikely to be basking or above ground (e.g., on cloudy/overcast days with air temperatures below 55oF) to minimize the potential for take of fox snakes. In addition to habitat protection, public education is needed to help facilitate proper identification of this snake, raise public awareness, and discourage illegal persecution, harassment, and collection. Any suspected illegal take of Eastern Fox Snakes should be reported to local authorities.

Active Period

Breeding from first week of June to second week of July

Nesting from fourth week of June to fourth week of July

Active from third week of April to fourth week of October

Survey Methods

The best way to survey for this species is to conduct visual encounter surveys in May and June when the snakes are most active and most visible. Visual surveys should consist ideally of multiple surveyors walking through suitable habitat looking for individuals on the surface or under cover. Eastern Fox Snakes are often found basking on artificially created dikes, muskrat houses, roads or other elevated sites. Cover board surveys also can be conducted in conjunction with visual surveys. These would consist of placing cover boards in areas with suitable habitat and turning over the boards during the day and looking for snakes under the boards.

More Information

See MNFI Species Abstract

References

Survey References

Technical References

Page Citation

Michigan Natural Features Inventory. 2007. Rare Species Explorer (Web Application). Available online at http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/explorer [Accessed Nov 23, 2009]