| The Eastern Hog-nosed uses its up-turned nose to hunt for it's prefered
prey, toads. In fact, the Hog-nosed feeds almost exclusively on
toads. These remarkable reptiles can be found in meadows or in areas
that are wooded or have sandy soils. |
|
Females will lay between 10 and 18 eggs in a sheltered area (under
leaves or logs) in mid summer. Young hatch about two months later. When
threatened, Hog-noses go through an elaborate defence display. First
they will flatten their neck and hiss, as if it were a cobra. If the
antagonist continues to bother it, the snake will roll onto it's back
and play dead. Unfortunately, people often fall for the snakes
cobra act, and kill a number of these harmless and beneficial snakes
each year. The Eastern Hog-nosed Snake is listed as Vulnerable by the
Ministry of Natural Resources. |
