The Pine Snake is a non-venomous snake native to the South-Eastern United States. They have a small head with a pointed snout. This pointed snout allows the snake to efficiently burrow.
They come from the colubrid family. The genus Pituophis consists of a number of different species of Pine Snake and Garter Snake.
Pine Snake Description
A Pine Snake typically grows to around 5ft in length, but this can vary depending on a number of factors including diet and locality. They have a small head in comparison to other large Colubrids, with a pointed snout that is used for digging.
All the snakes in the genus Pituophis have cartilage in the front of their vocal cords which amplifies their hissing. This allows the snakes mimic a rattlesnake and helps them scare off a potential threat.
The color pattern of the snake can vary greatly depending on species or locality. For example, a Northern Pine snake is a dull white or cream color with dark brown or black blotching while a Florida Pine Snake usually have a red or rusty coloration.
A male Pine Snake can be distinguished from a Female by the appearance of their tail. Males will have a longer tail that does not taper as quickly as the female tail. This is similar to the way Corn Snakes can be distinguished.
Distribution and Habitat
The Pine Snake is native to South-Eastern United States. They can be found in states such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Delaware, and Virginia.
They share much of their range with species such as the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Rough Green Snake and the Eastern Indigo Snake.
They like to live in a wide variety of habitats. They can be found in woodlands, forests, open brushland, farmland and a wide variety of other habitats. These snakes are commonly found in Pine Forests, hence their name.
A Pine Snake is a shy snake and will spend most of its time underground. The shelter they use consists of a burrow that they either dug themselves or one that they took over from another animal, potentially a previous meal.
Pine Snake Diet
A Pine snake will eat a variety of different animals including rats and mice and other small mammals such as moles. They are also known to prey on birds and will occasionally eat eggs. These snakes play an important role in their ecosystem as they help keep rodent populations under control.
Juveniles will feed on smaller prey items including baby mice and rats and other small mammals. Their diet is also supplemented with lizards and insects.
Pine Snake Behaviour
A Pine Snake is a Diurnal animal, meaning they are usually active during the day. This activity usually consists of basking in the sun or searching for prey. When searching for prey, they often go through rodent burrows to find their next meal.
They are generally a solitary species although females have been known nest communally. As part of the snake’s range can get quite cold in winter, these snakes are known to brumate during this period.
When threatened, a Pine Snake will vibrate its tail off the ground to try and mimic a Rattlesnake. This is a bluff to try and intimidate and scare off an intruder. They will also hiss loudly. If these tactics don’t work, the snake will attempt to bite, although they do not have any venom.
Breeding Pine Snakes
The breeding season for Pine Snakes begins in spring when the temperatures begin to rise. In most of their range this is around April or May. Clutch sizes can vary greatly with females laying anywhere from 4 to 20 large eggs.
Eggs are usually laid between June and August, but this depends on a number of factors. A typical lay site consists of a sandy burrow or under large rocks or logs. Eggs will then begin to hatch after around 65-80 days.
When the hatchlings emerge from the egg, they are dull in color and measure around 1.5ft long. Once they start shedding, their color patterns begin to emerge.
