Reptiles Active during the day

Southern Hognose Snake

Heterodon simus

iNaturalist Wikipedia

Meet the 'zombie' of the sandhills—the Southern Hognose Snake is a master of disguise and a champion of dramatic defense. With its adorable upturned snout and quirky personality, this harmless specialist is one of the Southeast's most fascinating and rarest backyard visitors.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

Size

14 to 20 inches (35 to 51 cm) in length; rarely exceeds 24 inches (61 cm)

Colors

Tan, yellowish, or reddish-brown background with a row of dark brown or blackish mid-dorsal blotches; the belly is characteristically pale and lacks dark pigment.

Key Features

Sharply upturned, shovel-like snout
Stocky, heavy-bodied build for its length
Underside of tail is the same pale color as the belly
Dramatic defensive 'play-dead' behavior

When You’ll See Them

Activity pattern Active during the day

Peak hours 8-11 AM, 4-7 PM

Season April-October

Diet A specialist predator that feeds almost exclusively on toads, such as Southern Toads and Spadefoots. They use their upturned snouts to dig prey out of sandy burrows and possess enlarged rear teeth to deflate toads that puff themselves up as a defense.

Habitat Open, well-drained areas with sandy soils, including longleaf pine sandhills, scrub oak forests, and coastal dunes.

Geographic range

Where Does the Southern Hognose Snake Live?

Native to the North American continent, the Southern Hognose Snake is a regional specialist of the Southeastern United States. Its core range is currently restricted to the Coastal Plain, stretching from southern North Carolina through South Carolina and Georgia, and into parts of Florida and southern Alabama. While historically found in Mississippi, populations there are now extremely rare or potentially extirpated, making this one of the most localized and vulnerable snake species in the American South.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

1 Countries

150K km² Range

Vulnerable Conservation

US United States

iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Southern Hognose Snake is nature's ultimate drama queen. When confronted by a predator or an curious human, it first attempts to look intimidating by flattening its neck, puffing up its body, and hissing loudly—a performance that earns it nicknames like 'puff adder.' If this bluff doesn't work, the snake transition into a state of thanatosis, or playing dead. It will flip onto its back, let its tongue hang out, and may even secrete a foul-smelling musk to appear as unappetizing as possible.

Beyond its theatrical defense, this snake is a highly specialized and shy creature. It is primarily fossorial, meaning it spends a significant portion of its life underground or buried just beneath the surface of loose, sandy soil. Unlike many other snakes that may be active at night, the Southern Hognose is strictly diurnal, timing its activity to the movements of its favorite prey. Despite their frightening displays, they are entirely harmless to humans and almost never bite, even when handled.

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Camera Tips

Capturing a Southern Hognose Snake on camera requires a ground-level approach. Because these snakes are small and hug the earth, position your camera just 2 to 5 inches above the ground. Aim the lens across a known 'travel corridor,' such as the edge of a sandy path or a clearing between clumps of wiregrass. A slight downward angle helps ensure the snake's distinctive upturned snout is visible in the frame.

Since these snakes are toad specialists, the best way to 'bait' a camera is by creating an environment that attracts their prey. A small, shallow water feature or a damp, shady spot near sandy soil will draw in toads, and the snakes will eventually follow the scent. Do not use actual bait or food, as these snakes are strictly hunters of live amphibians. Setting your camera near a 'toad hole' or a patch of loose sand where you see digging marks is a high-percentage strategy.

Timing is everything with this species. They are strictly diurnal and love the sun, so set your camera to be most active during the mid-morning and late afternoon. In the heat of summer, they may only move during the cooler morning hours. Ensure your camera has a high-sensitivity PIR sensor or use 'Time Lapse' mode at 30-second intervals if the snake's slow movement isn't triggering the motion sensor.

Seasonally, look for them in late spring (May and June) when they are searching for mates, or in early autumn when hatchlings emerge. Because they are often well-camouflaged against sandy soil, use a high-resolution setting (4K if available) to help pick out their patterns. If your camera allows for focal adjustment, set it for a close range (3-5 feet) to get the best detail of this relatively small reptile.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Southern Hognose Snake.

Eastern Hognose Snake

Larger with a less dramatically upturned snout; the underside of its tail is typically lighter than its belly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

They are strictly diurnal, meaning they are active during daylight hours. You are most likely to spot them in the mid-morning as they bask to warm up or in the late afternoon while they forage for toads.

The best way to attract them is to maintain a 'wild' sandy habitat and avoid using pesticides. By creating a toad-friendly garden with plenty of cover and a small water source, you provide the primary food source that brings these snakes around.

They are highly specialized predators that eat almost nothing but toads. They use their shovel-like noses to dig toads out of the ground and have specialized teeth to handle the toads' defensive 'puffing up' behavior.

They are becoming increasingly rare due to habitat loss. While they can be found in suburban yards that border sandy pine forests or scrubland, they are much less common than the Eastern Hognose Snake and are a species of conservation concern.

Look at the snout and the tail. The Southern Hognose has a much more sharply upturned snout. Crucially, the underside of the Southern Hognose's tail is the same pale color as its belly, whereas the Eastern Hognose usually has a tail underside that is noticeably lighter than its dark belly.

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