Reptiles
Western Fox Snake
Pantherophis vulpinus · also called western fox snakes
Cornered near a patch of prairie grass, a western fox snake vibrates its tail rapidly against dry vegetation, producing a buzz convincing enough that most people back away certain they have just encountered a rattlesnake instead of a completely harmless constrictor.
Overview
The western fox snake, Pantherophis vulpinus, is a harmless, non-venomous constrictor native to prairie and wetland-edge habitat across a range of the upper midwestern United States. Its uncanny rattlesnake-mimicking tail vibration, musky defensive odour, and unfortunate tendency to be killed by people who mistake it for a dangerous species make it one of the more misunderstood snakes found across the American Midwest.
A convincing bluff with no real teeth behind it
Lacking any venom or rattle of its own, the western fox snake relies entirely on sound and appearance to convince a threat it is something far more dangerous, a bluff that too often backfires when people are the ones being fooled.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable across suitable prairie and wetland-edge habitat throughout the upper midwestern United States.
Western Fox Snake: common questions
Why is the western fox snake often mistaken for a rattlesnake?
When threatened, this species vibrates its tail rapidly against dry leaves or vegetation, producing a buzzing sound that closely mimics a rattlesnake's rattle, and combined with its somewhat coppery-toned head and blotched body pattern, this convincing bluff frequently leads people to mistake the completely harmless species for a dangerous rattlesnake.
Is the western fox snake dangerous?
No, despite its intimidating defensive display of tail-buzzing and hissing, this species has no venom at all and kills its prey exclusively through constriction, posing no real danger to people beyond a defensive bite if the snake is directly handled or cornered.
Why does the western fox snake smell musky?
When threatened or picked up, this species releases a strong musky secretion from glands near the base of the tail, a smell some observers compare to a fox, which likely serves as a defensive deterrent against predators and gives the species its common name.
How is the western fox snake different from the eastern fox snake?
These two closely related species occupy different, largely non-overlapping ranges, with the western fox snake found across prairie and wetland-edge habitat in the upper midwestern United States, while the eastern fox snake is restricted to a much more limited wetland range around the Great Lakes.