the back that get closer as they approach the tail; underside whitish with obscure brown spotting; scales keeled.
Habit: Pine snakes are found in open longleaf pine uplands. Their main diet is pocket gophers, so they spend a lot of time in gopher burrows.
Distribution: Upland areas of northern and central Louisiana.
Comments: Due to habitat loss and consequently smaller gopher populations, the pine snake is considered a vulnerable species. The pine snake is non-venomous.
Pituophis melanoleucus, the black pine snake, is very rare, and has been found only in Washing-ton Parish. Over-all black, occassionally with light markings on chin; scales keeled. Black pine snakes are nonvenomous.