Fox Snake  Elaphe vulpina

With a yellowish to light brown body, the fox snake’s back is covered with a series of dark brown to black blotches. The head is wider than the neck and is usually brown to reddish with no blotches. It is the reddish head of the fox snake that bewilders the layman, as they are often confused with the copperhead snake, a completely different and venomous species. The belly of the fox snake is yellow with black checks. Scales with weak keels (ridges) are present along the middle of the back but are smooth elsewhere.

The fox snake lives in farmlands, prairies, pastures and woods. This diurnal snakes is terrestrial and seeks shelter under logs, boards or in other animals' burrows. Its prey is killed by constriction. This snake eats small mammals and birds. When disturbed, like other members of its genus, the fox snake may vibrate the tip of its tail against leaf litter which is why it is also sometimes mistaken as a rattle snake.

The height of mating is believed to occur in April. Courting begins when the male chases the female for as much as 40 minutes. The female's eggs are deposited in soil, rotten logs, leaf litter or sawdust. Eggs stick together as they are laid. This insures the eggs stay upright and together. Turned eggs occur in the bird class but are harmful to the reptiles.  Hatching occurs in late August and September, 2 to 3 months after the female has moved on. Snakelets take care of themselves or serve as food for others.