Hognose snakes will never bite in defense of themselves. About the only way a human could get bitten by one is to smell like hognose prey!
The hognose puts on at elaborate display when playing dead to fool predators or enemies. It’ll roll on its back, creates a stinky smell and let its tongue hang out of its mouth! If the predator turns it back over on its belly, the snake will immediately flip itself upside down again, as if to prove that it's dead.
The Western Hognose Snake is light sandy brown in color, with darker brown or gray circular markings. Their heads are of the same coloring but have a bit different diamond pattern. Their upturned snout has given them the name hognose. This unique nose aids in digging in sandy soils by using a sweeping, side to side motion. Although the western hognose snake has been known to grow up to six feet long, most adults typically grow as long as 15-33 inches.
Native to North America, the hognose snake is common in southern New Mexico through the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, north to Canada and east to Illinois. They generally inhabit stream beds, river banks and can be found from the plains to the mountains on prairies and in open woodlands.
Hognose snakes are carnivores, and will eat small mammals, rodents, lizards, eggs and frogs.
These snakes lead a solitary lifestyle. The hognose snake, when threatened, raises its head off the ground, hisses and rears back, like a cobra. But only as a display - it rarely will bite.
They are prey for larger animals but not much is known about its predators. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks lists the Western Hognose as a “species in need of conservation” although few programs are in place around the country for their conservation.
Typically they live up to 14 years in the wild, and more than 17 years in captivity.