Western Fox Snake (Pantherophis ramspotti)

Excerpt of a story published by the Chicago Tribune, Regional edition in July 2013. "It was a wet day in late April when Debbie and Anthony Garcy spotted a 6-foot-long western fox snake slithering across the Orland Grassland parking lot.
The snake appeared as the couple was driving away. Once they saw it, they stopped their car and jumped out to capture it with their digital cameras.
"We were so excited to see it," said Debbie Garcy of Orland Park. "At one point I laid down in the grass about 10-15 feet away to get a head-shot."
The fox snake is just one of many animals that have made a home in Orland Grassland, a 960-acre nature preserve on the southwest side."
*The snake was not disturbed or agitated and did not shake it's tail, hiss, or act aggressive. It just laid in the grass while I took the photos, then slithered off into the tall grass.

*This snake was identified by a reptile expert at the Orland Park Reptile House.

"Western Fox Snake Pantherophis ramspotti
Kingdom: Animalia
Division/Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Colubridae
ILLINOIS STATUS common, native
FEATURES
The western fox snake adult may be up to 54 inches long. An average of 41 (range of 35 to 57)
large, dark blotches are located on the midline of the back. Smaller dark blotches are present
along each side. The background color is yellow to light brown. The head is orange-brown to
red-brown and usually does not show distinct markings. The belly is yellow with black marks.
The anal plate is divided. Scales are weakly keeled.
BEHAVIORS
The western fox snake can be found in farm fields, open areas and wetlands in extreme
northwestern Illinois. When threatened, this species coils, raises its head, strikes and vibrates its
tail. The vibrating tail may cause a sound to be made if it is striking dead vegetation. This
beneficial snake is not venomous. It eats small rodents, small birds and bird eggs. After mating,
the female lays eight to 27 eggs in June or July. The eggs stick to each other and are placed in
rotting logs, rotting stumps, leaf litter or sawdust piles. The name “fox snake” comes from an
odor given off by scent glands at the base of the tail. The odor is said to be similar in smell to
that of scent given off by a red fox.
HABITATS
Aquatic Habitats
bottomland forests; marshes; wet prairies and fens
Woodland Habitats
bottomland forests
Prairie and Edge Habitats
edge"
© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2020. Biodiversity of Illinois

www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/prairie/htmls/popups/repti...

Taken on: May 21, 2018

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Western Fox Snake

Alaphe vulpine

egg-bearing

adult size 5-6 feet

constrictor

frogs

small snakes

birds

mice

voles

shrews

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balancing nature

if afraid just walk away

please do not kill snakes

open

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restored grassland

Orland Grassland

rebounds

Illinois

USA

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