Eastern Foxsnake
Pantherophis vulpinus
Size
40–50 in
Status
Uncommon
Venomous
No
Region
Northern Indiana
A large, harmless rodent-hunter of northern marshes and farmland, often needlessly killed because its blotched pattern and tail-vibrating draw comparisons to rattlesnakes and copperheads.
Identification
A stout tan to yellowish snake with bold dark-brown or black blotches down the back and a coppery, often unmarked head. Adults reach 3.5–4.5 feet. When alarmed it may vibrate its tail in dry leaves, sounding rattle-like, though it has no rattle and is harmless.
Habitat & Diet
Lives in marshes, wet prairies, dune country, and adjacent farmland in northern Indiana. It is a powerful constrictor that feeds mainly on rodents, helping control agricultural pests.
Conservation in Indiana
Uncommon in Indiana and often a victim of mistaken identity. Public education helps reduce needless killing of this beneficial snake.
Similar Species & Taxonomy
With its blotched pattern and tail-vibrating habit, the harmless Foxsnake is often mistaken for the Bullsnake, a rattlesnake, or a young ratsnake; its reddish head and bold dark saddles help identify it. A foxsnake (family Colubridae). Formerly Elaphe vulpina, it was moved to the genus Pantherophis in 2002; the foxsnakes were later split into the Eastern (P. vulpinus) and Western (P. ramspotti) foxsnakes.
United States Range Map Distribution
Distribution in Indiana
