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Fast Facts:
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If
the snake is threatened, it will normally try to hiss, strike
or puff up to scare off the predator. If none of these things
work, it will "play dead" until the threat leaves, for up to five
minutes.
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This
species of snake gets its name from the unusual up-turned shape
of its nose.
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Western Hognose
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| Scientific Name
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Heterodon nasicus
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| Habitat
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The Western hognose is usually found in grassland or sand
prairie.
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| Range
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They are native to North America, including the United States,
Canada and Mexico. In Kansas, they live in most of the western parts
of the state.
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| Diet
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This reptile finds its prey by smelling beneath the ground. It uses
its up-turned nose to dig up and eat toads, reptile eggs, small lizards
and snakes. It also will eat rodents and birds, if it can capture
them.
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| Size
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In the wild, western hognose snakes can grow to be 15 to
25 inches in length, but some have been reported to be nearly 40
inches long.
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| Lifespan
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In captivity, the Western hognose may live to be 15 to 20
years of age.
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| Location
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Special Features
- The
Western hognose is not territorial - as many as three adult snakes
may live in the same acre of land.
- During
the winter, the hognose burrows below ground to avoid cold temperatures.
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