South Carolina homeowner finds hissing porch snake, then discovers hognose nest under deck

A South Carolina homeowner thought he had just one small snake on his hands after encountering one on his screened-in porch.

But after some investigating, he found that there were at least three more, "just hanging out."

What happened?

The homeowner posted to Reddit's r/WhatsThisSnake community for help identifying the juvenile snake, which he suspected could be a cottonmouth, an eastern rat snake, or a hognose.

But shortly after posting to the animal identification forum, he found at least three more of the snakes below his patio deck.

The South Carolina poster, who described himself as "not a snake guy," added that the serpent had defensively coiled up when his "dog tried to boop it."

Commenters on the subreddit identified the original porch visitor as an eastern hognose, a nonvenomous snake known for dramatic bluffing when disturbed. 

The behaviors exhibited by the snake were described by the Redditors as classic eastern hognose behaviors meant to make the snake seem more dangerous than it is. One wrote, "Juvenile Eastern Hognose snake. Species is heterodon platirhinos. They are harmless and known for their dramatic hissing, flattening the neck, and playing dead."

Why does it matter?

The encounter happened in a space many people think of as protected from wildlife. A screened porch or deck may feel like an extension of the home, but it can also offer the kind of warm, sheltered hiding place animals seek out.

Human activity is almost always part of the picture when it comes to wildlife encounters. As homes, patios, and landscaping expand into natural habitat, people and wildlife are crossing paths more often, a pattern explored by BBC Future. In many cases, the animal is merely adapting to a built environment layered onto its natural range.

Still, a hognose's threat display can spark panic, especially for people unfamiliar with snakes, and these harmless species are sometimes killed after being mistaken for something more dangerous to humans.

At the same time, native snakes play an important role in local ecosystems.

What can I do?

If you find a snake on a porch, walkway, or under a deck, the best first step is to keep your distance and avoid trying to pick it up. Most snakes would rather get away than interact with a person, and giving them space reduces the chance of injury on both sides.

If you are unsure what species you are seeing, take a photo from a safe distance and contact local wildlife officials or a trusted snake identification resource.

That can help determine whether you are looking at a harmless native animal or whether professional help is needed.

Homeowners can also reduce the odds of surprise encounters by checking around decks and steps before working outside, repairing gaps in screens, and keeping clutter, debris, and dense ground cover away from the house.

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