Snake breed can no longer be kept as pets in Missouri

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A recently amended law makes it illegal for Missourians to keep an energetic yet harmless snake mostly found in sand prairies in Scott, New Madrid and Mississippi counties.

The population of the dusty hog-nosed snake is not at risk of being harmed.

"What changed in the law is that within the wildlife code, there's a section that says you can keep five specimens of native wildlife. At one time, dusty hog-nosed snakes fit into that case. Because the snakes are so rare, they're no longer a portion of the 'five rule.' People can't keep them in captivity or as pets," said Bob Gillespie, natural history biologist for Missouri Department of Conservation's southeast region.

The snake, also known as "spread head" or "hog nose," is not listed as endangered or threatened in the wildlife code, Gillespie said.

"It's listed as an 'S-1,' which means it's basically critically imperiled, or rare."

An S-1 listing means there are five or fewer occurrences of the snake in the state.

"When I talk about occurrences, that means it's been observed here once, here another time and so on," Gillespie said. "... The organism is doing poorly in the state."

Scott County Conservation Agent Leother Branch Jr. said he fielded at least half a dozen calls earlier this month from landowners, hobbyists and collectors inquiring about keeping the snake.

"I have had to tell them they can no longer keep and hold the snakes," Branch said.

Gillespie said the regional office has also fielded phone inquiries about the snake, which is found in Southeast Missouri.

The dusty hog-nosed snake population has always been small, Gillespie said. In 2004, the snake was relocated in historic sand prairies of Southeast Missouri after 40 years of no recorded sightings.

"The neat thing about it is it's a cool snake that's completely harmless and only occurs in sand prairie areas or historically sand savannah areas," Gillespie said of the snake. "They act real tough and huff and turn over and play dead and are real energetic; but they are completely harmless and very beneficial, too."

To protect and assure sustainable populations, the snake was added to the state's list of native species prohibited for personal collection in September 2008.

"One significant threat [to the species] is collections for the herptile trade. Collecting an organism like this one is detrimental to the reproduction of the population in general," Gillespie said, "and unlawful."

To remove the snake from the wild to have as pet is something the conservation department doesn't want to encourage, Gillespie said.

"My suggestion is if they have one they collected from the wild that they return it to the place they found it," Gillespie said of those who currently possess a dusty hog-nosed snake.

"They seem to be active in the fall until about late October and have probably already moved to areas where they'll spend the winter," Gillespie said.

However, if someone does see the snake, the conservation department employees are eager to learn about the sightings, Gillespie said.

"The dusty hog-nosed snake is a really neat part of our historic sand prairie natural communities," Gillespie said, "and this change in the wildlife code is a welcome protective measure for this rare organism."