[3] This species prefers habitats with sandy soils and a combination of grass fields and forest edges.

[8] Studies have shown that H. platirhinos prefers upland sandy pine-forests, old-fields and forest edges.

[9] Like most of the genus Heterodon, the Eastern Hognose Snake prefers dry conditions with loose soil for burrowing purposes.

[11] Barrier beach and dune ecosystems appear to contain some of the highest densities of Heterodon platirhinos because of abundant prey (primarily anurans from the genera Anaxyrus).

[12] At the northern end of their range, they have been found to prefer developed lands as their desired habitat followed by mixed forests dominated by hemlock trees.

It can be red, green, orange, brown, gray to black, or any combination thereof depending on locality.

[6] The average adult H. platirhinos measures 71 cm (28 in) in total length (including tail), with females being larger than males.

Because there is such a wide range the snake is found there is variation in the population's climates which can cause the period of activity to change.

[6] When the eastern hognose snake is threatened, the neck is flattened and the head is raised off the ground, like a cobra.

If this threat display does not work to deter a would-be predator, an eastern hognose snake will often roll onto its back and play dead, going so far as to emit a foul musk from its cloaca and let its tongue hang out of its mouth.

This immunity is thought to come from enlarged adrenal glands which secrete large amounts of hormones to counteract the toads' powerful skin poisons.

At the rear of each upper jaw, it has enlarged teeth, which are neither hollow nor grooved, with which it punctures and deflates toads to be able to swallow them whole.

[28] Eggs might be laid in small soil depressions, mammal burrows, or under rocks depending on the region.

These include: tarantulas, other snakes, crows, red-tailed hawks, barred owls, raccoons, Virginia opossums, foxes, and humans.

[6][5] Humans cause pollution and pesticide poisoning, habitat destruction, vehicular deaths, and intentionally hunt the snake.

Laura E. Robson and Gabriel Blouin-Demers conducted a study and found that the Eastern hognose snake avoids crossing paved roads, increasing the isolation of populations.

[35][36][37][38] Of the five states in the northeast U.S. where the eastern hognose snake occurs, it currently has "listed" conservation status in four (Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island).

[39] Noted declines are believed to be the result of direct anthropogenic pressures including habitat loss and fragmentation, road mortality, environmental degradation, and intentional killing.

[5][40] Some of this habitat fragmentation may be due to eastern hognose snakes having a reluctance to cross paved roads.