Pine Snake

The pine snake is native to the southeastern region of the United States.

It is a non-venomous constrictor that lives in prairies, pine forests, and other environments. The pine snake resembles a rattlesnake, but it is harmless to humans.

3 Amazing Facts About the Pine Snake

• It hibernates underground and has a snout designed for digging.
• If threatened, it shakes its tail to look like a rattlesnake.
• The Louisiana pine snake is the rarest snake in the United States.

Evolution and Origins

The Pine Snake, scientifically known as Pituophis melanoleucus, belongs to the Colubridae family of snakes and is native to North America.

The Pine Snake is believed to have evolved from a common ancestor with the Bull Snake, with both species sharing similar physical characteristics and behaviors. Fossils of ancestral Pituophis have been found dating back to the Miocene epoch, around 23 million years ago, indicating that the genus has existed for a considerable length of time.

The Pine Snake’s habitat includes pine forests, prairies, and coastal dunes, where it feeds on small mammals and reptiles.

Despite its wide range, the Pine Snake’s populations are threatened due to habitat loss and fragmentation, making conservation efforts crucial for its survival.

Different Types

Four different types of pine snakes exist, namely the northern pine snake, black pine snake, Florida pine snake, and bull snake, with the northern pine snake featuring a black or dark brown marking on its back, and a white underbelly with black dots running along both sides.

Where to Find Pine Snakes

These snakes are native to the pine forests and prairies of the southeast. Throughout their range, they are found in a variety of habitats. They live in the coastal plains of southern states like North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. They also live in the northern mountains of Virginia and Tennessee. There are pine snakes in the southern pine barrens of New Jersey, the grasslands of Alabama, and even in the southern region of Wisconsin, where they are called gopher snakes.

Where to see them in zoos

• Smithsonian National Zoo
• Audubon Zoo
• Memphis Zoo
• Maryland Zoo
• Utica Zoo

Scientific Name

Its scientific name is Pituophis melanoleucus. It has many popular names, including chicken snake, bull snake, pilot snake, white gopher snake, and pilot snake.

There are four subspecies of the pine snake:

• Northern pine snake
• Black pine snake
• Florida pine snake
• Bullsnake

Population and Conservation Status

Pine snakes are widespread in their range, and they are classed as “least concern” by the IUCN Redlist. Like all snakes, however, they have suffered population declines because of habitat loss and other factors.

They are listed as a species of special conservation concern in Georgia, and it is illegal to kill them under Georgia law. Their population is also considered threatened in Southern New Jersey. Conservationists believe they have been extirpated in Maryland and West Virginia, but wildlife biologists in Maryland say they still live in the Isle of Wight, a state Wildlife Management Area.

In 2020, the Audubon Zoo, Memphis Zoo, and U.S. Forest Service released 41 Louisiana pine snakes into the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana. The release of these juvenile snakes marked the end of a years-long process to raise them in captivity and reintroduce them to their former range. This subspecies of the northern pine snake is classed as endangered by the IUCN. It is considered the rarest snake in the U.S.

Appearance and Description

This is a large snake that reaches six feet in length and up to 9 pounds in weight. It has a large, stocky body with a distinct pattern on its scales. Typically, it has a light gray background with blotches of black, brown, and reddish-brown. These patches are usually darkest near the head and lighter near the tail. It has a white belly edged in dark spots.

Unlike other members of the colubrid family, which have two prefrontal scales, it has four. It also has a pointed snout that helps it dig burrows to hibernate in during the winter.

Venom: How Dangerous Are They?

Despite their large size and intimidating defensive posturing, these snakes are not dangerous to humans. They are not venomous or poisonous. Their bite can be painful, but they will only bite if provoked.

Behavior and Humans

Pine snakes are skilled hunters. They are diurnal but will sometimes hunt at night. They are shy, reclusive animals who spend much of their time in their underground burrows.

They reproduce in the spring and summer. Females use their snouts to dig burrows, and they lay their eggs in these burrows. Most females return to the same burrow every year to lay their eggs. They lay from 12 to 20 eggs that incubate for about three months. Baby pine snakes are noteworthy for their size. They can be over a foot long at birth.

Human interaction

Although pine snakes are not venomous, they have adapted a technique that mimics the actions of the highly venomous rattlesnake. When a pine snake feels threatened, it will make a hissing sound while shaking its tail. This is an adaptation designed to make predators think it’s a rattlesnake. It may also bellow loudly to scare away the predator.

These snakes hibernate in the coldest part of the winter. They do this by using their snouts to dig underground burrows for shelter.

Pine snakes are non-venomous and harmless to humans. They may bite if they are threatened, but they have no venom.

1. Coniferous Forest: Pine Snake, Available here: https://www.coniferousforest.com/pine-snake.htm
2. Savannah River Ecology Laboratory: Pine Snake, Available here: https://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/pitmel.ht
3. Maryland Zoo: Northern Pine Snake, Available here: https://www.marylandzoo.org/animal/northern-pine-snake/