page_title: Pituophis melanoleucus
section_title: Ecology
hierarchical_section_title: Pituophis melanoleucus / Ecology
caption_attribution_description: English: Florida Pine Snake, Pituophis melanoleucus light pattern
context_page_description: Pituophis melanoleucus, commonly known as the pine snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States. Three subspecies are currently recognized as being valid.
context_section_description: The pine snake preys on rats, mice, moles and other small mammals and eggs. It often enters rodent burrows in search of a meal. In these cases, multiple kills are frequent, with the snake pressing the mice against the walls of the burrow. The snake remains underground in cold weather or during the heat of summer days.
  When disturbed, it often hisses loudly, sometimes flattening its head, vibrating its tail, and eventually striking at an intruder. To make the rattling sound, the snake forces air out of its lungs, vibrating the epiglottis.
caption: Florida pine snake with a light pattern
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