The feigning snake

I was 7 or 8 years old when a hognose snake encounter ensured that I would make nature in some way, shape or form my true passion. My family, on most hot summer Sundays, would have a picnic in Franklin Township. This was before Beltzville Dam construction and a warmer Pohopoco Creek offered many families swimming fun at Harrity Dam. After cooling, it was back to the picnic. I began my usual nature snooping, and soon I discovered an unusual 30-inch snake.

I grabbed a short stick and prodded it a bit, and that is when I got "the show." The snake raised its head, flattened the neck area, puffed up its body, and began a series of scary short strikes directed at me. A quick SOS call to dad, and after his quick arrival, he told me you just found a "puff adder."

"Well it's real name is a hognose snake" he quickly corrected himself. "You need to watch this!"

He borrowed my stick and carefully poked the snake. For a while it continued its fake striking and looking very cobralike. Then the real treat occurred. The hognose twisted and turned belly up.

"He's playing dead," dad explained.

He then told me to roll it back over on its belly. I did, and within seconds, the snake rolled onto its back again. I can still picture all of this happening. I don't know how long it continued, but at some point, it went back to the cobralike routine again.

Later it played dead again.

Dad finally said, "Let the snake alone now and he'll think he did his job scaring us away."

I pestered him to take it home to show my neighbors Garry and Curt. Dad relented and got a 5-gallon bucket, and he picked up this now limp snake and I had my prize. A board was used as a lid, and of course every 10 minutes I checked on the snake. Eventually it was time to go back home, and I went to retrieve the snake, which was going to be my best show and tell ever for the neighborhood. The lid was slightly ajar, and you guessed it; no snake.

Crushed, I went home, but could only tell the Wentzes about this amazing reptile. Years later my dad informed me that mom wouldn't get in the car with that snake, and when I wasn't looking, he released it.

These snakes are residents in the Times News area and prefer farm-type habitats. I have seen them in forested areas but they're not as common there. They reach nearly 4 feet and have a robust body unlike the thinner garter snake. They lay typical reptile leathery eggs in loose soil and the 6-inch young hatch about 60 to 70 days later. Harmless to us, they feed on crickets, etc., as young snakes and prefer frogs as they grow larger.

I included a copperhead photo to again depict the differences so hopefully you would not kill one of nature's greatest con artists. Remember, nonvenomous snakes in Pennsylvania have round pupils and venomous snakes have elliptical. If you find one, show your child or grandchild one of the "greatest shows on earth." I'm sure, like me, they'll never forget the great act the hognose snake has perfected.

Test your nature knowledge: Which of these Pennsylvania predators will prey on white-tailed deer fawns? A. Coyote, B. Black Bear, C. Bobcat, D. all of these.

Answer to last week's trivia: Surprisingly, the black bear, Pennsylvania's second largest wild animal (sometimes weighing more than 500 pounds) has a diet of about 90 percent plants and fruit.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.