Class:
Reptilia
Order:
Squamata Serpentes
Scientific Name:
Elaphe vulpina gloydi
Range:
Extreme southern Canada, south to Indiana and west to Nebraska
Habitat:
Rolling prairies, farmland, wooded streams, marshes, and dunes
Diet:
Wild: Meadow voles, deermice, eggs, fledgling birds, newborn rabbits
Zoo: Pre-killed mice and chicks
Gestation:
55 to 70 days
Litter:
6 to 29 firm, leathery eggs
Life Span:
10 to 15 years
Description:
Length is 3 to 6 feet. Coloration is yellowish or light brown marked with bold chocolate-brown to black blotches down the midline of the back and tail. There are two alternate rows of smaller blotches on the sides. The belly is yellow with dark squarish blotches. A dark band runs from the eye to the angle of the mouth. A second band runs from eye to mouth. This snake is often mistaken for a copperhead.
Did You Know?
The name refers to the “fox-like” odor associated with the discharge of anal fluids when the snake is threatened. This defensive mechanism is usually abandoned in captivity. Although hatchlings and young specimens adjust well to captivity, adults frequently do not do well.
Where in the Zoo?
I can be found in the Conservation Education Programs at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
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