Well so much for what I have read and observed about hognose snakes. I got my Western Hognose in June of 2012 at about 1 year of age. She is from wild caught parents and has been a picky eater until about a year ago. I did my research and have handled her on a semi regular basis. What I had read and been told was they strike with a closed mouth and a strike was nothing to fear because of this. Up until this point of owning her this is exactly what she has done only pecking me with her little snout, hissing, huffing and puffing.

Today I was feeding her by placing some mice in the corner and putting her in the middle of her tank, like usual. She had the temp probe wrapped in her tail and she pulled it out of place. I reached in to replace it in its spot and she pecked me and then slammed my middle finger with a open mouth and started chewing. I tried to allow her to release me on her own but she continued to chew. Not knowing what her toxin may do to me I pulled her off my finger which immediately started bleeding from three or four punctures. I didn't hurt her and so far have not had any reaction to the bite.

I know that feeding time is a bad time to move around a snake and would not have done it around my other snakes, that was mistake number one. Im not surprised I got bit during feeding but I am surprised I got bit by my hoggy. She is still small being a trouble eater but she latched on to my man hand without issue and was trying to make short work of me. I don't wish to scare or alarm anybody but think it important that I let it be known that a hognose will strike a large object with an open mouth and latch on tight. Not the norm but not off the table.

As soon as it happened I thought of the user that was worried about her allergic child having a hognose and the reaction it may cause(not trying to start that debate again). I remember writing just what I had read and observed and felt an immediate urge to post this experience here. I will not say hognose strike with a closed mouth any longer. Even though this happened on feeding day the manner in which she struck me was more defensive in nature, an angry aggressive strike. It was clearly not mistaken identity nor was I to close to the prey. They were on the other side of the tank and she had to turn around and come after my hand. She has also never struck her live prey the way she did me and instead just grabs it and swallows. I believe she was having a bad day and took out a bit of frustration on me.

Overall Im glad it happened to me and not somebody else that may have had a reaction. I seem to be fine and am able to tell the story so that others can learn not to trust what information is usually passed about hognose as I did.

Today was an learning experience.