Eastern foxsnake (Elaphe gloydi) (Carolinian)COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 15


Information Sources

Ashley, E. P., and J. T. Robinson. 1996. Road mortality of amphibians, reptiles and other wildlife on the Long Point Causeway, Lake Erie, Ontario. Canadian Field-Naturalist 110: 403-412.

Ashley, E. P., A. Kosloski, and S. A. Petrie. 2007. Incidence of intentional vehicle–reptile collisions. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 12: 137-143.

Baird, S. F., and C. Girard. 1853. Catalogue of North American reptiles in the museum of the Smithsonian Institution; part I: serpents. Smithsonian Misc. Coll. 2. xvi+172 pp.

Blouin-Demers, G., K. A. Prior, and P. J. Weatherhead. 2002. Comparative demography of black rat snakes (Elaphe obsoleta) in Ontario and Maryland. Journal of Zoology 256: 1-10.

Blouin-Demers, G., and P. J. Weatherhead. 2000. A novel association between a beetle and a snake: Parasitism of Elaphe obsoleta by Nicrophorus pustulatus. Ecoscience 7: 395-397.

Brooks, R. J., G. P. Brown, and D. A. Galbraith. 1991. Effects of a sudden increase in natural mortality of adults on a population of the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina). Canadian Journal of Zoology 69: 1314-1320.

Brooks, R. J., A. Lawson, C. A. MacKinnon, and R. J. Willson. 2003. Ecology of Eastern Foxsnake populations in Georgian Bay. Unpublished report for the Endangered Species Recovery Fund.

Brooks, R. J., R. J. Willson, and J. D. Rouse. 2000. Conservation and ecology of three rare snake species on Pelee Island. Unpublished report for the Endangered Species Recovery Fund.

Burbrink, F. T., and R. Lawson. 2007. How and when did Old World ratsnakes disperse into the New World? Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 43: 173-189.

Catling, P. M., and B. Freedman. 1980. Variation in distribution and abundance of four sympatric species of snakes at Amherstburg, Ontario. Canadian Field-Naturalist 94: 19-27.

Chora, L., C. Parent, and A. Lawson. 2001. Assessment of eastern foxsnake (Elaphe gloydi) movement patterns and habitat use in Killbear Provincial Park. Unpublished report for Ontario Parks.

Collins, J. T. 1991. Viewpoint: a new taxonomic arrangement for some North American amphibians and reptiles. Herpetogical Review 22:42-43.

Conant, R. 1938. The reptiles of Ohio. American Midland Naturalist 20:1-200.

Conant, R. 1940. A new subspecies of the foxsnake, Elaphe vulpina Baird and Girard. Herpetologica 2:1-14.

Conant, R. and J. T. Collins. 1991. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. 3rd edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 450 pp.

Cook, F. R. 1991. Book review - A field guide to reptiles and amphibians of eastern and central North America. Canadian Field-Naturalist 105:608-615.

Cook, F. R. 1998. pers. comm. E-mail correspondence to R. Willson. Researcher Emeritus, Research Associate, Canadian Museum of Nature.

Corey, S. J., Gibbs, H. L., F. Mohammed, and K. A. Prior. 2005. Genetic analysis of Eastern and Western Foxsnakes. Unpublished Manuscript.23pp.

Coxon, A. 2002. Awenda Provincial Park Eastern Foxsnake research program: 2002 final report. Unpublished report for Ontario Parks.

Crother, B. I. 2001. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. SSAR Herpetological Circular 29: -iii + 82

Crowley, J. F. 2006. Are Ontario reptiles on the road to extinction? Anthropogenic disturbances and reptile distributions within Ontario. MSc. Thesis, University of Guelph, Guelph ON. 67p.

Doucette, R. 2005. Observation and element occurrence data cleanup and validation for the Eastern Foxsnake (Elaphe gloydi) and the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) in Ontario. Unpublished report for the Eastern Foxsnake and Eastern Hog-nosed Snake Recovery Team.

Ernst, C. H. and R. W. Barbour. 1989. Snakes of Eastern North America. George Mason Univ. Press, Fairfax, Virginia. 282 pp.

Farmer, R. 2007. Factors associated with vertebrate roadkill in southern Ontario parks. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Guelph, Ontario.

Fisher, I. 1998. pers. comm. to R. Willson. Pelee Island snake researcher.

Freedman, W., and P. M. Catling. 1978. Population size and structure of four sympatric species of snakes at Amherstburg, Ontario. Canadian Field-Naturalist 92: 167-173.

Froom, B. 1972. The Snakes of Canada. McClelland and Stewart Limited, Toronto. 128 pp.

Garber, S. D., and J. Burger. 1995. A 20-yr study documenting the relationship between turtle decline and human recreation. Ecological Applications 5: 1151-1162.

Gregory, P. T. 1982. Reptilian hibernation. In C. Gans and F. H. Pough. (eds.), Biology of the Reptilia, pp. 53-154. London: Academic Press.

Harding, J. H. 1997. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor. 378 pp.

Hawbaker,T.J., V.C. Radeloff, M.K. Clayton, R.B. Hammer and C.E. Gonzalez-Abraham. 2006. Road development, housing growth, and landscape fragmentation in northern Wisconsin: 1937-1999. Ecological Applications 16(3):1222-1237.

Johnson, B. 1989. Familiar Amphibians and Reptiles of Ontario. Natural Heritage/Natural History Inc., Toronto, Ontario. 168 pp.

Kerr, J.T. and J. Cihlar. 2004. Patterns and causes of species endangerment in Canada. Ecological Applications 14:743-753.

Kraus, D. T. 1991. Herptile records of Point Pelee National Park and the surrounding region. Unpublished report, Point Pelee National Park.

Kraus, F., and G. W. Schuett. 1983. A melanistic Elaphe vulpina from Ohio Herpetological Review 14:10-11.

Lamond, W. G. 1994. The reptiles and amphibians of the Hamilton area: an historical summary and the results of the Hamilton herpetofaunal atlas. Hamilton Naturalists Club. Hamilton, Ontario. 174 pp.

Lawson, A. 2004. Update on assessment of eastern foxsnake (Elaphe gloydi) movement patterns and habitat use in Killbear Provincial Park: Year-end report. Unpublished report, Ontario Parks, Killbear Provincial Park.

Lawson, A. 2005. Potential for gene flow among Foxsnake (Elaphe gloydi) hibernacula of Georgian Bay, Canada. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Guelph, Ontario.

Logier, E. B. S. 1958. The Snakes of Ontario. University of Toronto Press, Toronto. 94 pp.

Logier, E. B. S., and G. C. Toner. 1961. Check list of the amphibians and reptiles of Canada and Alaska. Contribution No. 53, Life Sciences Division, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto. 92 pp.

M’Closkey, R. T., C. Watson, and J. Barten. 1995. Eastern fox snake status investigation, Point Pelee National Park. Report for Parks Canada. 69 pp.

MacKinnon, C. A. 2005. Spatial ecology, habitat use and mortality of the Eastern Foxsnake (Elaphe gloydi) in the Georgian Bay area. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Guelph, Ontario.

MacKinnon, C. A., A. Lawson, E. D. Stevens, and R. J. Brooks. 2006. Body temperature fluctuations in free-ranging eastern foxsnakes (Elaphe gloydi) during cold-water swimming. Canadian Journal of Zoology-Revue Canadienne de Zoologie 84: 9-19.

MacKinnon, C. A., L. A. Moore, and R. J. Brooks. 2005. Why did the reptile cross the road? Landscape factors associated with road mortality of snakes and turtles in the South Eastern Georgian Bay area. pp. 153-166 in G. Nelson, T. Nudds, M. Beveridge, and B. Dempster (eds.), Protected Areas and Species and Ecosystems at Risk: Research and Planning Challenges. Proceedings of the Parks Research Forum of Ontario (PRFO) and Carolinian Canada Coalition (CCC) Annual General Meeting May 2005, University of Guelph.

Meeks, R. L. 1968. The accumulation of 36th ring-labelled DDT in a fresh water marsh. J. Wildlife Management 32:376-398.

Mills, A., P. Kotanen, and R. Mooi. 1983. Elaphe vulpina new northern limit. Ontario Field Biologist 37:39-40.

NatureServe. 2006. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 6.1.NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.(Accessed: June 20, 2007).

Oldham, M. J., and W. F. Weller. 2000. Ontario Herpetofaunal Atlas. Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; (updated 15-01-2001).

Ontario. 1997. Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.

Ontario, 2005. Provincial Policy Statement.

Ontario. 2007. Bill 184: Endangered Species Act.

Paleczny, D., A. Lawson, K. Otterbein, P. Walsh, and L. Chora. 2005. Species at risk and park development: The eastern foxsnake and the Killbear Provincial Park visitor centre. pp. 167-180 in G. Nelson, T. Nudds, M. Beveridge, and B. Dempster (eds.), Protected Areas and Species and Ecosystems at Risk: Research and Planning Challenges. Proceedings of the Parks Research Forum of Ontario (PRFO) and Carolinian Canada Coalition (CCC) Annual General Meeting May 2005, University of Guelph.

Porchuk, B. D. 1996. Ecology and conservation of the endangered blue racer snake (Coluber constrictor foxii) on Pelee Island, Canada. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Guelph, Ontario.

Porchuk, B. D., and R. J. Brooks. 1995. Natural history: Coluber constrictor, Elaphe vulpina and Chelydra serpentina. Reproduction. Herpetological Review 26: 148

Powell, R. 1990. Elaphe vulpina (Baird and Girard) Foxsnake. Catalogue of American amphibians and reptiles. SSAR species account. 3 pp.

Rivard, D. H. 1976. The biology and conservation of Eastern Foxsnakes (Elaphe vulpina gloydi Conant). M.Sc. thesis, Carleton University, Ontario.

Rivard, D. H. 1979. The status of the Eastern Foxsnake (Elaphe vulpina gloydi), in Canada. Report to Parks Canada. 33 pp.

Row, J. R., and S. C. Lougheed. 2006. Demography and landscape genetics of eastern foxsnakes (Elaphe gloydi). Unpublished report for the Endangered Species Recovery Fund.

Row, J. R., and S. C. Lougheed. 2007. Demography and landscape genetics of eastern foxsnakes (Elaphe gloydii). Unpublished report for the Endangered Species Recovery Fund.

Russell, R.W., S.J. Hecnar, G.D. Haffner and R.T. M’Closkey. 1995. Organochlorine contaminants in Point Pelee National Park marsh fauna (1994). Report to Parks Canada. 150 pp.

Schmidt, K. P. 1938. Herpetological evidence for the postglacial eastward extension of the steppe in North America. Ecology 19:396-407.

Smith, P. W. 1957. An analysis of post-Wisconsin biogeography of the prairie peninsula region based on distributional phenomena among terrestrial vertebrate populations. Ecology 38:205-218.

Snell, E. A. 1987. Wetland distribution and conversion in southern Ontario. Inland waters and lands directorate working paper No. 48. Environment Canada.

Staszko, R., and J. G. Walls. 1994. Rat Snakes: a Hobbyist’s Guide to Elaphe and Kin. T.F.H. Publications, New Jersey. 208 pp.

Utiger, U., N. Helfenberger, B. Schatti, C. Schmidt, M. Ruf, and V. Ziswiler. 2002. Molecular systematics and phylogeny of Old and New World ratsnakes, Elaphe auct., and related genera (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae). Russian Journal of Herpetology 9: 105-124.

Watson, C. 1994. Habitat use and movement patterns of the Eastern Foxsnake (Elaphe vulpina gloydi) at Point Pelee National Park, Ontario. M.A. Thesis, University of Windsor, Ontario. 141 pp.

Watters, D. 2003. Wasaga Beach 2002 Building Activity Highest Yet. (www.wasagabeach.com/business/index.html)

Whitaker, P. B., and R. Shine. 2000. Sources of mortality of large elapid snakes in an agricultural landscape. Journal of Herpetology 34: 121-128.

Willson, R. J. 2000. The thermal ecology of gravidity in Eastern Foxsnakes (Elaphe gloydi). M.Sc. Thesis, University of Guelph, Ontario.

Willson, R. J. 2002. A systematic search for the blue racer (Coluber constrictor foxii) on Pelee Island (2000-2002): Final Report. Unpublished report for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

Willson, R. J., and R. J. Brooks. 2006. Thermal biology of reproduction in female Eastern Foxsnakes (Elaphe gloydi). Journal of Herpetology 40: 285-289.

Willson, R. J. and K. A. Prior. 1998. Status report on the Eastern Foxsnake (Elaphe gloydi) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa, Ontario 12 pp.

Willson, R. J., and J. D. Rouse. 2006. Evaluation of Eastern Foxsnake (Elaphe gloydi) and Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) point location data: Determining usability for future spatial analyses. Unpublished report for Recovery Team.

Wilson, R. 1985. Yellow warbler nestling predation by Eastern Foxsnake. Ontario Birds 1985: 73-75.

Wright, J., pers. comm. 1997. Correspondence to R. Willson. Herpetologist.


Biographical Summary of Report Writer

Robert Willson received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the University of Guelph in 1997 and 2001 respectively. His graduate research involved an investigation of the reproductive ecology of Eastern Foxsnakes on Pelee Island (1998–1999). He has continued to be involved with Eastern Foxsnake research projects on Pelee Island and in Georgian Bay and has been an active member of the species’ recovery team since its inception in 2003. Additional investigations of snake ecology and conservation include eight years working on Eastern Massasaugas and Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes as part of Killbear Provincial Park and Parry Sound MNR projects.

Page details

Date modified: