OutdoorNebraska

5 T he Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) has a unique upturned snout giving it a hog nose appearance. They use their upturned noses to dig up their preferred foods–frogs and toads, hence their colloquial name "Toad Poppers." Despite some other rather sinister- sounding common names such as "Spreading Adder", "Hog-nosed Rattler", "Mountain Moccasin", or "Sand Viper", this species is actually quite mild mannered. Although this rear-fanged species is mildly venomous, it is highly unlikely to pose any threat to humans, livestock, or pets. Even their mild venom is energetically costly to produce, so they save it for their prey. Humans just can't compete with a nice fat toad! In fact, when approached by humans or predators, hognose snakes use a unique and harmless defense strategy. They flatten out their heads to appear larger and more threatening in a pose known as hooding. Think of their reaction like that of a cat arching it's back and hissing. They just want to be left alone. If the hooding doesn't deter the threat, they will then defecate and emit a musky odor while thrashing around on their back followed up by feigning death in a scene worthy of an Oscar nomination. They're so invested in the performance that if you turn them upright, they will immediately flip back over, showing their bellies and lolling their tongue out of their open mouth. This is a comically ingenious predator- deterrent behavior that actually seems to work! The Eastern Hognose can be found scattered throughout much of Nebraska but prefers sparsely vegetated areas along river corridors and reservoirs. They are listed in the State Wildlife Action Plan as a Tier II Species of Greatest Conservation Need because they are becoming more rare in the state as suitable habitat continues to become more fragmented. Since 2018, these snakes have been observed in the Loess Canyons Biologically Unique Landscape (BUL), situated south of North Platte and Gothenburg and north of Wellfleet and Farnam in west-central Nebraska. Thanks to surveys partially funded by the Wildlife Conservation Fund conducted in the Loess Canyons, the number of documented occurrences of Eastern Hognose Snakes has increased by 800%, making the area a stronghold in Nebraska for the species. Records of the Eastern Hognose Snake are tracked by the Nebraska Natural Heritage Program. If you find this species or others listed in the State Wildlife Action Plan, take a picture, note its location, and then let us know. To submit an observation or to learn more about the Nebraska Natural Heritage Program, visit www.outdoornebraska. gov/naturalheritageprogram. A healthy adult male Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) displaying the hooding behavior as a predator deterrent. COLLEEN ROTHE-GROLEAU By Colleen Rothe-Groleau, Data Technician, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission The Eastern Hognose Snake Not a villain but a character reminiscent of Monty Python "I'm dead – not good to eat!" The same male admirably playing dead. COLLEEN ROTHE-GROLEAU

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