I travel around the country allot and stop in reptile shows wherever they are near.
Three times last year, I found vendors selling Eastern Fox Snakes, but when I examined the animals, they were clearly westerns.
These vendors seemed sincere that they did not know.

As John (jfirneno) correctly said in this thread, “(westerns) have a much greater variability in their appearance”.
Telling the difference is a challenge, yet, when you keep both, it becomes easier.

Conant/Collins/Johnson say that Westerns average 41 dorsal blotches and Easterns average 34. Key word here is average.

Note This is measured from neck to cloacae (not to tip of tail).

Tennant says that Westerns have 32 to 52 and average 41 dorsal blotches and Easterns have 28 to 43 and average 34.

If you're shopping, here’s a typical Eastern. You can’t see it in the picture, but there are 14 dorsal blotches from the cloacae to the tip of the tail, so you do the math.
Still the wonderful thing about nature are the suprises!!

[ Show Entire Thread ]