As a Wildlife Photographer, I was thrilled to spot two Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes on the side of the road here in Arkansas. Their unique color pattern immediately caught my eye, and I was eager to capture them through my lens.
As I took a closer look, I noticed that these snakes had a wide range of colors and patterns, which I later learned is a common trait of this species. From red, green, orange, brown, gray to black, or any combination thereof, the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake can display an incredible range of colors depending on its locality. Their bellies tend to be a solid gray, yellow, or cream-colored.
It’s interesting to note that the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake is sometimes referred to as a “puff adder.” When threatened, it will puff itself up, spread the skin around its head and neck like a cobra, hiss, and lunge forward, pretending to strike.
To capture the shot of these two snakes, I was walking down a road near the Ouachita National Forest with my trusty Fujifilm X-T 3 camera and a Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens attached, along with a Fringer EF-FX Pro. I carefully approached the snakes to ensure that I did not disturb them and started taking photos.
As a wildlife photographer, I am always fascinated by the unique behaviors and beauty of different animal species. The Eastern Hog-nosed Snake is no exception. Their variable color pattern and defensive behavior make them an intriguing subject to capture through the lens.
Camera Settings For First Photo
- AV Mode
- Aperture f7.1
- ISO 800
- Shutter speed – 1/950 sec.
- Focal Length – 400 mm
Camera Settings For Second Photo
- AV Mode
- Aperture f6.3
- ISO 800
- Shutter speed – 1/300 sec.
- Focal Length – 400 mm
Here is a snake that I photographed last week: Snake Inside A Duck Nest Box