| The western fox snake is
a
large snake with big, dark
blotches. It is found mainly along the St. Croix, Mississippi,
and Minnesota
rivers. The western fox snake doesn't look anything like a fox. It got
its name
because when it is handled it gives off a musky odor similar to that of
a red
fox. This long snake has large, dark splotches on most of its body and
dark
rings on its tail. In young western fox snakes, the head has a black
line from
the eye to the jaw, and another across the top between the eyes.
Western fox
snakes do not have rattles. At 35 to 56
inches from head to tail tip, the western fox snake is among Minnesota's
longest. The background color of
the western fox snake is yellow to dark brown. The markings are brown
or black.
The western fox snake's belly is yellow with black marks. Adults have
an
unmarked bronze colored head. Although
it lacks rattles, the western fox snake can make a rattly sound when it
shakes
its tail. It also may hiss when threatened.Western fox snakes mate in
the
spring. The female lays 10 to 20 eggs in mid to late summer. The young
hatch in
late summer to fall. Newly hatched western fox snakes are 8 to 12
inches long.
Western fox snakes live in forest edge habitats. They are often found
along
forested edges of our larger rivers. The western fox snake does not
have
special status in Minnesota,
which means its population is likely doing fine. |
