We’ve seen lots of dead snakes on the road this year, but not a single live one. So it was quite exciting yesterday to come across a long, unscathed fox snake (Elaphe vulpina vulpina). It was evening, and she was stretched out at full length, capturing the last of the day’s heat that remained in the asphalt. This is often the death of these beautiful animals as they depend on external sources for their body heat and will quite readily use the road for such needs. 
Swerving around her, we jumped out and Kenton captured her by the tail. She was quite strong, and deciding that she wasn’t ready to leave, tried a few strikes and rattled her tail in Kenton’s hand. (Fox snakes are often mistaken for rattlesnakes and killed — partly because their patterns and coloration bear some small resemblance to a rattlesnake’s, but also because they’ll often attempt to scare away a threat by vibrating their tail. If it vibrates against dry leaves, it can sound almost like a rattlesnake. While a good defense against predators, it means that humans often kill them, mistaking them for a venomous snake). Then, quite to Kenton’s surprise, she musked. (“I didn’t know they musked!”, he exclaimed.) It smelled like an extra-potent version of a garter snake’s smelly defense, but it was a brownish substance instead of the white that characterizes a garter snake’s. 
She was deposited on the side of the road, where she soon sped away into the grass. The rest of our trip was spent exclaiming how beautiful she was, and laughing at how close she had come to latching on to Kenton’s hand or leg. It looks like she’s been around awhile to get that big, and we’re wishing her many more adventures and hopefully many more years of life.
Posted on September 7th, 2009 by Rebecca Whitman
Filed under: Reptiles and Amphibians
Very nice– good work! I’d been wondering what you two were up to… She looks a lot like a bull snake, amazingly so, as a different genus! I have a little bull snake adventure to post shortly… it’s been a snaky summer. Had to stop for a tiny, newly hatched garter snake crossing the road the other day.
I wish you many more successful rescues!
Hello Sally! Great to hear that you’ve had a snaky summer! We’re jealous! =) Those babies are amazing, aren’t they — the little garter snake must have been so tiny!
You’re absolutely right on the bull snake/fox snake resemblance. We’ll often tell people that bull snakes have a more ’speckled’ appearance while the fox snake has ‘cleaner’ or more defined markings, but it can be difficult to tell them apart in the field. The head is often the best way to tell them apart — this link does a good job of helping people distinguish between the bull snake, fox snake, and eastern milk snake — http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/herps/snakes/bullsnake1.htm
Thanks for the well-wishes, and thanks as well for bringing up the bull snake resemblance — we forgot to mention the similarity!
I am always relieved to hear when people stop to rescue snakes on the road. I can’t begin to tell you how many people I’ve heard say they run over every snake they see. Unfortunately my husband used to be one. I say “Used to be” because now he sees things differently and avoids them, or at he least lets me perform a highway rescue much like Kenton. Between the turtles and the snakes, it seems like there is always some little creature needing pulled of the road. Kudos to you for a great rescue of a gorgeous snake.
I am so grateful for folks like you. You set such a good example of care and respect for fellow creatures. Thank you.
Nice rescue! Sadly, many folks will kill any snake they see, even harmless garter snakes.
Hello MObugs41!
Way to go on your own rescues! Today we swerved for a little snapper baby, but by the time we got back the truck behind us had already hit it. It’s so sad to see creatures die on the road like that, especially such a little critter that hadn’t had a chance to even swim in a pond. Each rescue, however, is truly a joy, and it is wonderful to know that you’re out there as well, helping creatures off the blacktop and into the grass =)
Thank you Jackie! That means a lot =)
Dear barefootheart,
You’re so correct! It’s always a challenge to get people to respect snakes. Let’s all keep trying!
Hi Kenton and Rebecca! I haven’t ventured over here in a while, but was glad to have checked in today. Your snake find makes me jealous. What a fantastic snake and so lucky to have you stop to move it from harm’s way.
People around here often kill Northern Water snakes because they mistake them for water mocassins aka cotttonmouths.
Hello Cecilia,
We LOVED the Northern Water Snakes you featured as part of your last post. That makes US jealous because we’ve been trying to spot one all summer! =) What beautiful animals! We’ve heard, as you have stated, that they’re often killed as mistaken water moccasins. That seems to be the fate of too many snakes. So we appreciated your photos of young people interacting with the snakes — it’s a great way to show people that they’re not to be feared.
Way to go you guys! I’ve experienced the garter snake’s “smelly defense” first-hand.
I’ve been big on stopping to rescue animals out of the road lately – and I’m happy to report that I managed to save a baby snapping turtle a few months ago. I have not had an occasion to save a snake in the road, but since I have no idea of the proper way to handle a snake I would probably opt to “shoo” it off the road!
Hello Amber!
‘Shooing’ is always a good way to do it =) It warmed our hearts to hear about the baby snapper — we were incredibly sad when we came back and found ours dead (as referenced in the comment to MOBugs41). Those little snappers are about the most amazing little things in the world. THANK YOU for helping that turtle out!