Louisiana pine snakes prefer the sandy soil of longleaf pine forests. Dwindling Longleaf Pine Habitat in Louisiana, Texas Is Hurting Rare Snake . The snake then expands its body so the gopher is … 2006). 45 Snake Species That are Found in Louisiana. Herpetological Review 29(3), 1998. NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A burrowing snake found only in Louisiana and Texas is now listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Baird’s pocket gophers (Geomys breviceps) are the largest component of their diet. Areas of the Kisatchie National Forest in central Louisiana have been revived and are now an ideal location for releasing these endangered snakes. Louisiana Milk Snake - Lampropeltis triangulum amaura Milk Snakes vibrate their tails and hiss and strike, but many do not readily tame; some have a habit , when handled, of biting without warning. Food includes small snakes and lizards, baby mice, small fish, and earthworms. Louisiana pine snakes are carnivorous. Commonly found in or near woodland habitats, pine especially. This snake is considered the rarest large snake in North America, as less than 210 have ever been found in their native habitat, which stretches from east Texas to western-central Louisiana. Louisiana Pine Snake Considered to be one of the rarest snakes in North America, The Louisiana pine snake (Pituophis ruthveni) calls the lush Longleaf pine savannas of west Louisiana and east Texas home. The Louisiana pinesnake is well adapted to the longleaf pine ecosystem and is found in the pine forests of north and central Louisiana and east Texas. The forest service protects the state's only forest―Kisatchie National Forest―which spans a total of 600,000 acres in central and northern Louisiana. Louisiana Pine Snake Protected as Threatened Under Endangered Species Act . AnimalSake provides a list of species of Louisiana's snakes, and a brief description of each. Louisiana's snakes may fascinate some, but they do induce fear in many others. The rare species of North America, the Louisiana pinesnake is a constrictor by nature. Herpetological Review 29(3), 1998. It eats Baird’s pocket gophers and lives in their burrows. Creature Profile. It eats Baird's pocket gophers and lives in their burrows. Due to its habitat loss it has been endangered. The Louisiana Pine Snake (Pituophis ruthveni) is a species of concern belonging in the species group "reptiles" and found in the following area(s): Louisiana, Texas. It eats Baird’s pocket gophers and lives in their burrows. This leads to drying soil and the growth of understory plants, which are perfect conditions for pocket gophers, and therefore, for the pine snakes. Through the SSP program, young pine snakes are being reintroduced into their native territory in the hopes of re-establishing the wild population. Snakes, in general, aren't aggressive, except in cases of self-defense. We, the U.S. Longleaf pines are slow-growing and allow lots of sunlight to penetrate through to the forest floor. Read More. Louisiana Pine Snake. The Louisiana pine snake is a 5-foot-long (1.5-meter-long) constrictor found in a few longleaf pine forests in Louisiana and Texas. By Patrick Houston Briggs In the past, the Louisiana pine snake had been considered to be the rarest snake in North America. Louisiana pine snakes are constrictors, but they don’t wrap themselves around prey like boa constrictors do. This article is only an excerpt. LAFAYETTE, La.— In response to a legal victory by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Enrolled Size (Total Area Enrolled, by State) Data not available; Data not available The Louisiana Pine Snake (Pituophis ruthveni) persists as small, fragmented populations scattered across its’ historic range (Rudolph et al.