Eastern Hognose Snake
Heterodon platirhinos
A harmless, upturned-snouted Florida snake famous for bluffing, hooding, and playing dead when frightened.
Eastern Hognose Snakes favor sandy Florida soils in scrub, pine flatwoods, sandhills, old fields, and coastal habitats. Their shovel-like snout helps them burrow and search for toads.
When threatened, the snake may flatten its neck, hiss, strike with a closed mouth, and finally roll over as if dead. These displays look dramatic but serve to avoid conflict.
Habitat:
Pine Flatwoods and Sandhills, Scrub and Dry Prairie, Forests and Woodlands
Area / Range:
Florida Panhandle, North Florida, Central Florida
Diet:
Specializes on toads and also eats frogs, salamanders, small mammals, and reptiles. Enlarged rear teeth help subdue amphibian prey.
Behavior:
Active on the ground by day and skilled at burrowing. Defensive displays include neck flattening, loud hissing, bluff strikes, and death-feigning.
Daytime
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Spring through fall on sandy trails, fire-maintained uplands, and quiet roads near suitable habitat.
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Not federally listed; local populations decline when sandy uplands are developed or fire is excluded.
Safety Level:
Low
Safety Information:
Leave the snake alone and let it retreat. It is not dangerous to people. Handling creates stress and may trigger prolonged defensive behavior.
Benefits to Property:
Consumes toads and other small animals while contributing to healthy upland food webs.
Property Concerns:
Creates no structural damage. Its dramatic bluff display often causes unnecessary alarm or mistaken removal.
Fun Fact:
- The upturned snout works like a small shovel.
- It may play dead with its mouth open.
- Turning a death-feigning snake upright often makes it roll over again.
Wildlife Laws:
Native snakes on public or protected lands are subject to agency rules. Do not kill or collect wildlife without authorization and landowner permission.
Identification:
Stout snake with a sharply upturned snout, keeled scales, and highly variable color ranging from patterned tan or yellow to nearly black.