Hi Gregg, I do not disagree with that, but can add more opinions. While in the field. We observe a range of behavior, including prey type. And your right, they do without question, key on whats abundant in a specific local.
But, there is a wide range of most behaviors. Some are sensitive to interference, some are not. Some are bold, some are not, some are fearless some are not, some use the surface often, some do not, for years at a time.
With hognose, its much easier to understand, A wild pair only has to have two offspring survive, say every five years. During that five years, their reproductive potential is from 75 to 200(large well fed female) With that type of recruitment, hognose can consistently cover a wide range of abilities in order to maintain and increase populations. Of course, we can produce for much longer then five years, or not. In my experience, with other colubrids in nature, 3 to 8 years is normal.
With other species, we do have evidence of offspring learning from adults, by observing and following scent trails left by successful adults.

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