What presentation tactic is commonly employed to encourage feeding by bridging the scent gap for stubborn Western Hognose Snakes?

Scenting the prey item with toad scent or fish oil

Western Hognose Snakes often rely heavily on ingrained scent cues, which are strongly associated with their natural diet of amphibians, making them notoriously stubborn eaters when presented only with the neutral scent of a rodent. To overcome this reliance on scent, keepers frequently use a technique called 'scenting.' This involves physically rubbing the frozen/thawed rodent with something that possesses a strong, appealing odor that mimics natural prey. Common substances used for scenting include fish oil or, most effectively, actual toad scent. This process acts as a bridge, stimulating the snake's feeding response by associating the familiar, desired odor with the acceptable feeder item.