Additional Information

Fox Snake

Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Serpentes
Family:
Scientific Name: Elaphe vulpina

The Fox Snake is a constricting snake that is yellowish or light brown in appearance. The size of this snake can range from 40-50 inches at maturity and it has an average of 41 large blotches on its body, not including the tail. The blotches are chocolate brown to black and are located down the midline of the back and tail. There are also two alternating rows of smaller blotches on its sides. The white to cream belly is covered with dark squareish blotches. Also, a dark band runs from the eye to the angle of the mouth, and a second band extends vertically from the eye to the mouth.

This snake prefers moist habitats to dry ones and can be found in rolling prairies, farmland, wooded stream valleys and in the Lake Michigan Dune country. Although this member of the rat snake family has excellent climbing skills it is usually seen on the ground in fields near marshes.

These snakes reproduce from April to July, and in late June to early August the female lays 6-29 firm leathery eggs. The young hatch in late August to October and are 10-13 inches long when they emerge from the egg.

The food of the Fox Snake consists of meadow voles, deermice, eggs, fledgling birds and newborn rabbits.

Unfortunately, because of the orange coloration of its head, it is often mistaken for a copperhead and killed. When it is excited, it can vibrate its tail in the surface leaf litter, which makes a noise similar to that of an aroused rattler, however, this snake rarely bites.

Information adapted from: Palmer, E. Laurence and H. Seymour Fowler. A Fieldbook of Natural History.@ Second Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1995.

Green Frog

Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Salientia
Family: Ranidae
Scientific Name: Rana clamitans

The female Green Frog can reach a length of 4 inches, where as the male of the species reaches only 3 1/2 inches. The male's "ear" is larger than its eye and has a greenish-yellow spot in it. The male also has a proportionately broader head. Both the male and the female of this species have a pair of wrinkles running down the back, one on either side, and their toes are less fully web than that of the bullfrog. The male develops a yellow throat during the breeding season and the female has a white throat. The young usually have a lot of black spots on their backs.

Green Frogs can be found through eastern North America from Canada to Florida. They live within jumping distance of a permanent pool, pond, or lake throughout their lifetime, and they may hibernate in the winter or in a burrow above the water line.

When the air temperatures have reached 65 degrees Fahrenheit in early summer, the male and female reproduce. The female will lay up to 5,000 eggs in the north end its range and up to 1,000 in its southern range. These films of eggs can reach to 1 foot across at the water's surface. The eggs hatch in 3-5 days and the tadpoles develop in 370-400 days into tadpoles with green tails, brown spots, and creamy bellies. The tadpoles may over winter in some regions. Mature tadpoles transform into frogs in 1 year, and they may breed when they reach a length of 3 inches. Green Frogs have been known to live up to 10 years.

The food of the Green Frog tadpoles includes oozes and scums that are gleaned under water. The adult Green Frog will eat almost any animal that can be captured, such as insects, small mammals, etc. The call of the Green Frog is a pleasing "tchung", which is produced from the flattened pouch of paired internal vocal sacs.

These frogs are protected by law in some states during their breeding season.

Information adapted from: Palmer, E. Laurence and H. Seymour Fowler. A Fieldbook of Natural History.@ Second Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1995.

Red Fox

Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Scientific Name: Vulpes fulva

The Red Fox is a dog-like mammal that can reach lengths up to 41 inches, including the 16 inch tail, and can weigh up to 14 pounds. The male of this species is larger than the female. It has a bushy tail, with large pointed ears and nose. Both the male and female are colored alike, with a golden brown or reddish coat on top and white on the underside, with a white tail tip and black legs. The young are somewhat different in appearance with a black muzzle and black on the back of the ears.

The Red Fox can be found in wooded and farm lands particularly where there is mixed cover, from the Arctic to the Mexican border. These animals are apparently most abundant in country where there is quail, grouse and rabbits.

The Red Fox are monogamous, at least for the one breeding season, but they may pair for life. They mate in January to late February and the female produces anywhere from 4-10 young that are born 51 days after breeding. The young become fully independent at 5 months and are considered full grown at 18 months. The male of the species feeds the female and the young and leads enemies away from the den at the risk of his own life. The life span of the Red Fox is perhaps up to 15 years, but more commonly less than eight.

The Red Fox is probably the world's greatest destroyer of mice, however they also eat carrion, fruit, vegetables, game, and poultry, but most of all mice. They have a remarkable sense of smell, good sight and have excellent hearing, intelligence and endurance. They are active year round, in the day, but mostly at night.

Information adapted from: Palmer, E. Laurence and H. Seymour Fowler. A Fieldbook of Natural History.@ Second Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1995.

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The Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project is funded, in part, by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grants #XP995743-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -08 and C-264000-01.