Colors vary largely as per the different regions it's found in. The most commonly seen colors include black, brown, gray, orange, green, and red; however some of them also possess more than one color combining two or more of the above listed colors. There is also a lot of variation in the patterns, some have blotches, some are checkered or striped, and some are completely patternless. They have 25 rows of keeled dorsal scales, and their undersides are either dull gray, cream, or yellowish. These snakes are very shy and are mostly active during the day. They are spotted more during the spring, as this is the time when they reproduce. They rarely bite and are mildly-venomous, however, their venom does not pose any threat to humans. These snakes like to stay exposed than covered under shelter. When the snake is threatened, it displays a very peculiar but interesting defense mechanism; it flattens its neck and raises its head above the ground. It will also hiss constantly and strike in extreme cases, but won't bite. In some cases, the snake in defense is even seen to roll on its back and play dead to such an extent that, it would emit a foul-smelling odor from its cloaca and drop its tongue out. The Eastern Hognose snake is basically a burrowing type of snake, and prefers soft loamy or sandy soil (well-drained) which it can dig and make a place to live in. These snakes mostly occur in fields, forests, beaches, and shrublands. Although burrowing, it prefers to bask and stay exposed. They also use their burrows to lay eggs, especially in the spring or late summer. For food, these snakes hunt amphibians and their favorite prey is toads. They are resistant to the poison produced by the toads; these snakes are rear-fanged and inject a mild venom meant for amphibians into its prey, this venom is responsible to neutralize the poison secreted by toads and hence doesn't affect the snake. Toads also have the tendency to inflate in self-defense, but the snake's sharp fangs deflate them making it easier for the snake to swallow. These snakes also eat frogs, newts, salamanders, and rodents. During spring or late summer, the female lays about 8-20 eggs in their burrows and isolate it. Neither do they look after their eggs, nor do they take care of the hatchlings. The eggs hatch after about 60 days, and the hatchlings are about 6-8 inches long. An Eastern Hognose snake lives approximately for 10-12 years and sheds its skin periodically to grow.