QUESTION: Will a bite from the snake pictured above kill you?
ANSWER: No. Although the Western Hognose can both flatten its head to look like a cobra, hiss loudly, and is known to shake its tail in dried brush to mimic a rattling sound when threatened, the hognose is non-venomous.
Actually, this “spreading adder” is about as threatening as a non-venomous, toad eating snake can get. The hognose does deserve a lot of credit for putting on a great show, we think.