Very few snakes can hiss at all. The only ones in your area (I'm assuming Southern NJ by your bio) that would be able to hiss would be an Eastern Hognose Snake and a Northern Pine Snake. I would hazard a guess that it could also have been a small mammal of some kind. If it was a snake it was an uncommon and interesting species.

I had a Black Kingsnake hiss at me last week at Red River Gorge. I dont know if easterns do the same or not, but I think they do.

I believe that opossums will hiss, but don't know of any other small critters that might hiss at me. What ever it was it had to be hiding in the pine tree I was cleaning under or in the leaves that pile up against the fence. What else could it have been?

One time When I was walking by some thick brush I heard what I thougt was a hiss and then I realized it was a snake vibrating its tail against some leaves. I couldnt see it through the grass but it could see me as it would start again as I moved closer or made some rustlin with my feet.It turned out to be a racer but ive also observed all the king snakes(common,prarie,milk)doing the same thing.I dont remember if I ever saw a rat snake do that though.Just a thought.

I have quite a few black rat snakes around my house and when I go over to one to pick it up it usually vibrates its tail.

Very few of the snakes I've handled(and that's a LOT)have ever hissed. Some will produce a very short expulsion of air when they strike, which does sound a bit like a really short hiss, but the only real hissers I've messed with among native North American snakes are the Cottonmouths, Eastern Hognoses and those snakes in the Pituophis genus, the Pines, Bulls, and Gophers. Those last guys can REALLY hiss, LOL! I haven't really heard any of the others hiss, though, at least not that would be audible more than a couple of feet away. People associate hissing with snakes, when in fact most snakes are pretty much silent creatures.

Sharon McKenzie

This was a loud long hiss that sent me backing up faster than I thought I was capable of moving. I was under a pine tree at the time and could not see anything in the branches hanging down so I assume the hissing came from something in the leaves that always pile up along the fenceline. We do have the Eastern Hognose and Northern Pine snake that Wayne mentioned in his post. All I know is that I will never forget that sound, it seemed like it was very close.

I would guess a Northern Pine Snake, in that you were under a pine tree. Those guys get pretty testy when they feel threatened, but I assure you even a direct strike doesn't do much damage. A big Pituophis adult can probably eat over 300 rodents a summer.

Dave