frequently asked q u e s t i o n s critter f i e l d   g u i d e what is it? g u e s s   g a m e ask jim y o u r   q u e s t i o n s critter care i n s t r u c t i o n s links f o r   m o r e   i n f o Critterguy / Critter Field Guide / Snakes / eastern hog-nosed snake Critter Field Guide: Snakes of Michigan eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos eastern hog-nosed snake Description A thick-bodied snake with an upturned "nose." Color is variable—some have dark spots and blotches on a yellow, orange, or brown background, but others are solid black, brown, or olive with little or no visible pattern. Easily identified by defensive behavior (see below). Adult Length: 20 to 40 inches. Habitat and Habits A harmless snake of open, sandy woodlands. The upturned snout is used to burrow after toads, a favorite food. When threatened, Hog-nosed Snakes puff up with air, flatten their necks and bodies, and hiss loudly. (Hence the local names "puff adder" or "hissing viper.") If this act is unsuccessful, they will writhe about, excrete a foul smelling musk, and then turn over and lie still, as though dead. Reproduction Female Hog-nosed snakes lay from 4 to over 50 eggs in early summer, usually in an underground burrow. The baby snakes hatch out about 60 days later. Range and Status Recorded from most of the Lower Peninsula and the southern tip of the Upper Peninsula, but most common in the western and northern LP. Their numbers have declined due to needless human persecution. Acknowledgement James Harding MSU Museum Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824 (517) 353-7978 hardingj@msu.edu © Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved.