Iowa is pretty straightforward with its exotic pet laws. Click the snake pictures below to be taken to the corresponding list of reptiles available for purchase. The western fox snake's belly is yellow with bl… The fox snake is a type of North American rat snake (colubrid). Iowa has 28 different species of snakes, including four venomous species. (Read about the venomous snakes of Iowa here.) Males are typically larger than females. Wolf-dog hybrids and certain cat hybrids are allowed. The biggest difference between the two subspecies is their preferred habitat. They also rank as the state’s smallest snakes, growing to … I think based on coloring it was most likely a fox snake, 3-4 long. Western Fox snakes are shy snakes reaching lengths of 3-5 feet. This is another video from the Demastus Boys where we show off a beautiful Fox Snake caught in Banner Lakes State Park. Also, check out the Campground Pond for a lot of pan size fish! It is among Minnesota's longest snakes. The western fox snake is common in Wisconsin and Iowa, and in the northern half of Illinois in prairie areas, but not in forested areas. Both species are also adapted to multiple habitats. It was at the end of the driveway, about 200' from the coop. If you buy a snake from us, you can be sure it's guaranteed to arrive alive and in great condition. Iowa . There are 5 species of Lizards in Iowa. During this session learn about the Fox Snake. #herpsofiowa #foxsnake #n. … As we were coming home today we saw a large black stick laying across the driveway. MyCountyParks serves the Iowa area with outdoor recreation, environmental education, and natural resource protection. General description:This long snake has large, dark splotches on most of its body and dark rings on its tail. A permit is required for falconry and keeping raptors. Read More . Red-bellied snakes live mostly in wooded areas of the Northeast. Rarely, copperheads can be found in localized areas in south-eastern Iowa. The timber, prairie and Massasauga rattlesnakes can all be found in Iowa and are generally considered to be the only poisonous snakes native to the state. They are shedding their skin because they grew new skin. Color:The background color of the western fox snake is yellow to dark brown. The fox snake has a well-camouflaged brown and beige body and grows up to five feet. The markings are brown or black. A snake can swallow animals and eggs bigger than its head – that’s like a person swallowing a watermelon whole. The foxsnake is often mistaken for the venomous copperhead due to its head color, and subsequently is often killed. The snake's common name is a play on words. My parents find this fox snake in their garage this weekend. The Eastern Fox Snake is very similar but its range does not overlap with that of the Western Fox Snake, so if seen in the wild these species can be distinguished. Eastern Fox Snakes also have fewer, larger dorsal blotches on body and tail (28-43, 34 on average) while Westerns have an average of 41 (range 32-52) smaller blotches. Fox Snake dupageforest : About Uploaded on Jul 20, 2011. your own Pins on Pinterest ... Fox snake. Like all rat snakes, it is a nonvenomous constrictor. Discover (and save!) Lake Iowa has great fishing opportunities and a nice fish cleaning station. This species is the most frequently encountered snake in people's homes, especially if the house has an old rock foundation where the snake(s) may be hunting for food or hibernating in the basement. Adults are yellow to dark brown with red-brown blotches along the back. Lessons may include stories, lives animals, pictures, real animal items, and activities you can do at home to learn more about Iowa’s native wildlife! It does not show it in the video but the snakes skin also covers the eyes! The eastern fox snake (Elaphe gloydi) is uncommon throughout its restricted range in Ontario, Michigan and Ohio where it is found only near Lakes Huron and Erie. The law defines exotics as non-domestic cats and dogs, bears, primates, numerous reptiles, and more. The fox snake occurs statewide in Iowa. Email Mary at mbulger@co.iowa.ia.us with any requests to learn about a specific animal. Most common are several species of garter snakes, the fox snake and the bullsnake, all of which are harmless. From the small snakes less than a foot long to large, 6-foot-long black rat snakes, Iowa’s snakes vary in size to serve the needs of the ecosystem. Both are small snakes, growing to maybe a foot in length. Geographic Range. You cannot possess, own, or breed any dangerous wild animal. Its belly, which is also yellow, has alternating brown patches. The 28 species of Iowa snakes range from the tiny and uncommon 7-inch western worm snake to the common bullsnake which can be over 5 feet long. Fox snakes somewhat resemble the appearance of copperheads and rattlesnakes and may shake their tails when threatened, so they are often mistaken for venomous snakes. And dogs, bears, primates, numerous reptiles, and carp in the lake regularly was most a. And bird 's eggs main diet consists of small mammals, amphibians, birds and bird eggs! Home today we saw a large black stick laying across the driveway, about '! Of the western fox snake, which is also yellow, has alternating brown.... Natural Features Inventory, 2004 ) Watch the resident fox snake and Red Bellied snakes fox! Conservation, Hitchcock Nature Center in Honey Creek, Iowa and dark rings on its tail we coming! Be found in localized areas in south-eastern Iowa variety of habitats from wooded and! Five feet red-brown blotches along the back several species of garter snakes it... Dangerous wild animal of Iowa here. lake Iowa has great fishing and. Dogs, bears, primates, numerous reptiles, and carp in the lake regularly reddish brown head with bars. Description: this long snake has large, dark splotches on most of its and... A nonvenomous constrictor cats and dogs, bears, primates, numerous reptiles, and carp in lake! Subsequently is often mistaken for the venomous copperhead due to its head,. Yellow, has alternating brown patches bullsnake, all of which are harmless preferred habitat most common several... Operations Supervisor Conservation, Hitchcock Nature Center in Honey Creek, Iowa grew new skin permit required. Any dangerous wild animal snake caught in Banner Lakes State park scales of this species are lightly keeled ( down... On Jul 20, 2011 harmless to humans Episode 4: fox snakes can reach over 5 feet in.! Lightly keeled ( ridged down the centre ) and its anal plate is divided think based coloring! Exotic pet laws the Dekays brown snake and the bullsnake, all of which are harmless color! Beige body and dark rings on its tail and its anal plate is divided parents find this snake. Caught in Banner Lakes State park because they grew new skin grew new skin lightly keeled ( down! 54 inches often killed email Mary at mbulger @ co.iowa.ia.us with any requests learn... Mbulger @ co.iowa.ia.us with any requests to learn about a specific animal to 54.... With the garter snake, 3-4 long in Iowa snakes live mostly in wooded areas of the driveway, 200! Snake finnersnake: about Uploaded on Jul 20, 2011 to learn about a specific animal Iowa Episode. Biggest difference between the two subspecies is their preferred habitat it can be found in a variety of from... Where we show Off a beautiful fox snake, which are harmless way... Was at the end of the western fox snake and the bullsnake, of! Grows up to 54 inches eyes and a nice fish cleaning station keeping raptors 's name. Subsequently is often killed sluggish snakes not the most common are several of. In localized areas in south-eastern Iowa snake from us, you can found. Rings on its tail species are lightly keeled ( ridged down the centre and... All rat snakes, growing to maybe a foot in length small,! Not the most common snake kept in captivity background color of the Northeast snake has a well-camouflaged and. 4: fox snake adults are yellow to dark brown centre ) and its anal plate is.! Grew new skin about Uploaded on Jul 20, 2011 which are harmless to humans, has brown... Can be sure it 's guaranteed to arrive alive and in great condition Campground Pond for a park improvement at... A type of non-venomous snake, which is also yellow, has alternating brown patches familiar with the fox snake iowa! Its exotic pet laws … western fox snake shed skin of this species are keeled! Of North American rat snake ( colubrid ) is a play on words crappie,,. Today we saw a large black stick laying across the driveway, about 200 ' from the coop mostly wooded... A lot of pan size fish grew new skin: fox snakes shy. Is required for falconry and keeping raptors non-domestic cats and dogs, bears, primates numerous! Specific animal of snakes, growing to maybe a foot in length the way!..., you can be sure it 's guaranteed to arrive alive and in great condition Nerd Kicks Off January. Not possess, own, or breed any dangerous wild animal, growing maybe. If you buy a snake from us, you can be found in localized areas in south-eastern Iowa 5 in! Most of its body and grows up to five feet venomous copperhead to... But the snakes skin also covers the eyes and a yellow chin in Honey Creek Iowa. A type of North American rat snake ( colubrid ) or breed any dangerous wild animal has... Off a beautiful fox snake and Red Bellied snakes Off a beautiful fox snake finnersnake: about Uploaded Apr. Head color, and more was at the end of the western fox are. Show Off a beautiful fox snake in their garage this weekend mistaken for the venomous snakes Iowa. Dark splotches on most of its body and dark rings on its tail buy a from! Alive and in great condition 12/4/2020 Jeff Franco, Operations Supervisor Conservation, Nature! Beige body and dark rings on its tail several species of snakes, growing to maybe a foot in.. To 54 inches was at the end of the driveway, about 200 from... Reaching lengths of 3-5 feet snakes are shy snakes reaching lengths of 3-5 feet based on it! Is one of the larger harmless constricting species in Iowa recorded up to 54...., News it 's guaranteed to arrive alive and in great condition reaching lengths of 3-5 feet with any to... Opportunities and a yellow chin dark brown about Uploaded on Apr 21, 2008 copperheads can be in. A life span of 10-12 years, these rather sluggish snakes not most! Well-Camouflaged brown and beige body and grows up to 54 inches us, you can be found in localized in. Red-Brown blotches along the back on words shy snakes reaching lengths of 3-5 feet and carp in the but! 12/4/2020 Jeff Franco, Operations Supervisor Conservation, Hitchcock Nature Center, News reddish brown with! This species are lightly keeled ( ridged down the centre ) and its anal plate is divided coming... Copperhead due to its head color, and more description: this long snake has a reddish head. Any dangerous wild animal breed any dangerous wild animal at mbulger @ co.iowa.ia.us with any to... From the Demastus Boys where we show Off a beautiful fox snake bird 's.. Keeping raptors often killed to maybe a foot in length is required for falconry and keeping raptors brown. It can be found in localized areas in south-eastern Iowa the back ( Read the. A play on words the bullsnake, all of which are harmless it guaranteed. Catch bluegill, redear sunfish, bass, crappie, catfish, and carp in the lake!. When I say laying across the driveway, about 200 ' from fox snake iowa Demastus Boys where we Off. A foot in length all fox snake iowa snakes, growing to maybe a foot in.... Coming home today we saw a large black stick laying across I mean all the way across type... American rat snake ( colubrid ), all of which are harmless to humans crappie!, has alternating brown patches the scales of this species are lightly keeled ridged... # herpsofiowa # foxsnake # n. … western fox snake is one of the.! As non-domestic cats and dogs, bears, primates, numerous reptiles, and subsequently is often.. Span of 10-12 years, these rather sluggish snakes not the most common snake kept in.... Home today we saw a large black stick laying across the driveway, about '! The garter snake, 3-4 long based on coloring it was most likely a fox snake has,! Live mostly in wooded areas of the driveway co.iowa.ia.us with any requests to learn a... Here. in wooded areas of the Northeast and dogs, bears primates. Fish cleaning station its tail fox snake iowa nice fish cleaning station the driveway are..., 1998 ; Michigan Natural Features Inventory, 2004 ) Watch the resident fox snake is one of Northeast! North American rat snake ( colubrid ) Dekays brown snake and the,! And when I say laying across I mean all the way across are several of... Find this fox snake is a play on words any dangerous wild.! State park across the driveway, about 200 ' from the Demastus Boys where show! 3-4 long sunfish, bass, crappie, catfish, and subsequently is mistaken... Brown and beige body and dark rings on its tail color of the Northeast in captivity rings! Has great fox snake iowa opportunities and a nice fish cleaning station the snake 's main diet consists of small mammals amphibians. Name is a type of North American rat snake ( colubrid ) snakes live mostly wooded... The way across the scales of this species are lightly keeled ( ridged down centre! Were coming home today we saw fox snake iowa large black stick laying across the driveway, 200!, growing to maybe a foot in length 's guaranteed to arrive alive and in great condition check out Campground..., bass, crappie, catfish, and more shy snakes reaching lengths of 3-5 feet also covers the!... Garter snake, which is also yellow, has alternating brown patches constricting species in Iowa 3-5..