The northern pine snake is found in the northern and eastern-central regions of the country, in areas with sandy soils and dry upland forests. They occur in the southern portion of the state in the Pine Barrens, where they are isolated from other conspecifics much farther south in Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky and the Carolinas (Burger and Zappalorti 2011). They are a fossorial species limited to sandy soil habitats of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. This species of snake, which rarely climbs vegetation and prefers to be on the ground, has the ability to tunnel underground and excavate its own nests, summer dens and places to hibernate.
In mid spring, usually April in New Jersey, northern pine snakes begin emerging from their hibernacula. Hibernacula are generally located at the edges of clearings, in areas with sparse vegetation, and in places with sparse tree cover to allow sun penetration, although some are in denser cover (Burger and Zappalorti 2011). Dens may be dug at the bases of old decaying stumps, in abandoned mammal burrows, or other suitable refugia. Dry, sandy, pine-oak to oak-pine woodlands with open canopy areas are indicative of potential foraging habitat for this species. Northern pine snakes are known to eat mammals as large as rabbits, as well as small rodents and birds. They are usually most active in early morning or late afternoon when they leave their burrows to hunt. Later in the spring and even into early summer, males may actively seek out females laying pheromone trails and attempt to mate with them (Zappalorti and Torocco 2002).
Northern pine snakes are egg-layers and typically lay their eggs in underground nests that they excavate in open sandy areas. Sandy, infertile soil provides areas with limited vegetation and is a necessary medium for potential nesting sites. Nesting areas are most often characterized by open, treeless landscapes with bare loose sand and scattered ground vegetation. Both human-caused and natural disturbances are typically involved in creating the types of openings important for nesting and basking (Golden and Jenkins 2003). Eggs are usually laid in mid-summer (June and early July), and adult females have the tendency to re-use their nest sites year after year. The female may lay three to 16 eggs in the nesting chamber and then leaves the nest.
During early fall, northern pine snakes may follow scent trails back to their original overwintering sites or seek out another suitable hibernaculum. Cold weather in mid-October or early November will promote the descent of the snakes into the hibernacula, where they will remain until spring emergence (Zappalorti and Torocco 2002).
The following factors should be considered when evaluating habitat for pine snake:
DuBois evaluated the site in January of 2026 for habitat features critical to the northern pine snake. Open, exposed sandy features indicative of suitable nesting habitat were absent from the site and its vicinity. Several dirt paths were present; however, they were unsuitable for pine snake nesting. Additionally, decaying logs and anthropogenic features (i.e. dirt mounds and debris piles) which may offer subsurface refuge for snakes were present on site by DuBois. The basic vegetation composition along the western and southern boundaries, and immediately off site to the west is indicative of suitable foraging habitat for the species. Suitable nesting habitat is present on the opposite side of Toms River, over 1,500 feet away.
The site itself does not contain enough contiguous land and forested areas to support the range of northern pine snakes and development on site, as well as offsite to the north and south, has limited access from or