Every so often I ask myself; If I could only keep one species of snake, what would it be? At this juncture my mind goes through a mental serpentine rolodex of sorts stopping at such names as: Centralian python, ( Morelia bredli), Gulf Hammock rat snake, (Elaphe obsoleta williamsi), Kankakee bull snakes (Pituophis catenifer sayi), Okeetee Corn Snake, (Pantherophis guttatus) but without fail I always end up on Pituophis melanoleucus) better known as the Northern pine snake. In the ensuing pages I will highlight this magnificent species, and hopefully offer some insight into keeping and caring for this remarkable animal.
Description: Northern pine snakes are a powerfully built colubrid, routinely hitting the six foot mark, with certain specimens reaching seven, and even eight feet in length. Simply stating their length can be a bit misleading as this animal is heavy bodied and makes their presence known, making six feet seem more like sixty. Melanoleucus are most identifiable with their slightly pointed head augmented by an enlarged rostral scale that extends between the internasal scales, usually four prefrontal scales are visible. Their scales are somewhat keeled and earth toned, with brilliant hues of black white, gray, brown, and red present, there will be variance phenotypically within range and locality.
Range and Habitat: P. melanoleucus can be found throughout the United States as P.m. mugitus in Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, and southern South Carolina. P.m.lodingi in southwestern Alabama to eastern Louisiana. However the jewels of the species are found in southeastern Kentucky, eastern Tennessee, northern Georgia, southern North Carolina, west through South Carolina, and to the northeast in Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey. As I stated previous, there is noticeable variance in appearance across these various locales. The premiere representation of this species in my opinion can be found in New Jersey, specifically the Pine Barrens. This locale of the northern pine snake from my experience tends to be the most vivacious not only in appearance, but in size and attitude as well. These snakes are truly a sight to behold, and pictures do not tend to do it justice. In the wild you will find pine snakes inhabiting pine flatwoods, woodlands, prairies, and brushlands where they use their slightly pointed head to burrow under soil, leafs, and other vegetation.
Behavior and Husbandry: Northern pine snakes, particularly those in the northwest region are beautiful animals, but if you ask any keeper (myself included) the main draw to them is their personality. Pine snakes like all members of the genus Pituophis ( pine, bull, and gopher snakes) are known for their theatrical displays when threatened. These snakes will rear up, inflate, rattle, hiss, and strike. In fact this genus is literally built for this display as their namesake Pituophis indicates, Pituophis roughly translates to mucus membrane, and refers to their overly developed epiglottis allowing this genus to be the loudest hissers of all the snakes in the world. With most Pituophis particularly bull snakes these displays are generally bluff, and mainly associated with cage defensiveness, more often than not these snakes will retreat when encountered and become dismissive allowing handling….this does not seem to be as common with northern pine snakes.
Northern pine snakes are more likely to follow through with their threatening behavior with an actual strike, however once out of their cage they seem to calm down, and will subside with frequent handling. I generally will use a hook to take an animal out of the enclosure, and will use my free hand to grab them mid body once they begin to retreat ,they will let you know when they are done being handled. Pine snakes have an insatiable appetite coupled with an incredible feeding response, making them good “garbage cans” of your snake room. I feed my pines a varied diet of mice, rats, chicken legs, quail, and duck necks, and they almost never refuse a meal, and almost always want more. I feed one to two items a week, which seems to work well with their insanely high metabolism. Speaking of high metabolism, they process meals within a few days and defecate numerous times throughout the week, so a scheduled cleaning day does not really work with them. This species is very active so a large enclosure is essential, however they are also very neurotic so a vivarium or other display caging seems to over-stimulate them and thus increases their stress level. I have had most success in keeping them in very large racks with ample hides in a substrate of aspen shavings or paper towels. I heat the room for an ambient of about eighty degrees.
Breeding: Pine snakes will reach sexual maturity at about three years, but more importantly I look to make sure the female is of adequate size, as their clutch albeit relatively small in numbers are of substantial egg size. Post brumation around spring time I will introduce food regularly, and then increase intake to twice a week to females of breeding size.After shedding has occurred the male should be introduced into the female’s enclosure and monitor breeding, frequent re introduction seems to yield the best results. The gestation period is about twenty days, followed by around sixty days of incubation. Northern pine snakes are very large for colubrid standards right out of the egg, usually around 1.5 feet. I introduce hopper mice after their first shed, but some will not even want to wait that long.
I would suggest this animal to a moderate to advanced keeper. It is hearty and forgiving, but does require patience and attention…and lots of groceries. Hopefully after reading this you will look into this remarkable animal further, or at the very least you should probably YouTube a Northern Pine Snake’s defensive display. Seriously, go do it.
