Are you interested in learning more about how snakes live in the wild?
Have you ever wondered what dangers a wild snake might face?
If you have been thinking about learning more about wild snakes, one question you might ask is:
What eats snakes?
Snakes at any stage of development have many natural predators they need to look out for in the wild. Some of the major predators include many birds of prey, honey badgers, mongooses, raccoons, fox, big cats, coyotes, and other snakes, not to mention in some parts of the world, humans.
There are many dangers for snakes out in the wild.
Continue reading for more information on what animals.
Table of Contents
What Eats Snakes?
Wild animals always have to worry about other animals who are higher on the food chain.
For snakes, this worry comes at any stage of life.
From egg to adult, snakes face the danger of being eaten by another animal anywhere on their life cycle.
Birds
Some of the most common predators a snake will face are birds of prey.
Birds of prey, including many eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, and herons, will easily make a meal out of snakes if they can.
Using their incredible eyesight, speed, and ability to dive in and attack quickly, these birds can easily find and attack snakes.
Add in their sharp talons and beaks, and these birds of prey, also known as raptors, are deadly once they have a snake in their sights.
For many birds on the larger size, their primary food source is the snake.
Other Snakes
While these large birds are the most common predator, snakes have to worry about, but the other top predator would be other snakes.
Snakes donāt care what their meal is as long as it is meat, and sometimes this means smaller members of their species become the meal.
Mammals
Mammals are also known to get in on the hunt for snakes.
Raccoons, fox, big cats, coyotes, and even humans are some of the mammals a snake will have to look out for daily.
These mammals will use their teeth, claws, and the ability to move quickly to attack and eat the snake.
In the rainforests of India and Southeast Asia, one large mammal snakes have to worry about is the tiger.
Tigers will eat medium and large snakes if they can find them.
Some of their favorites include black mambas and pythons.
Being venomous doesnāt mean the snake will be completely safe and off predatorsā radar.
They are just as likely to be eaten as non-venomous snakes.
Mongooses are naturally immune to snake venom, and snakes are their primary food source.
Mongooses are known to be excellent hunters when it comes to snakes.
In fact, they are so good at hunting snakes, people in some countries keep them as pets to help ward off snakes, and they repel snakes with mongoose urine.
The King Cobra snake, found in Asia, actually will eat other smaller snakes it comes across, but it faces a formidable opponent in the mongoose.
Mongooses move faster than the King Cobra, allowing them to beat the snake in a fight.
Along with the mongoose, honey badgers also have a natural immunity to the venom of many snakes.
Aside from these, some crocodiles, like the saltwater crocodile of Southeast Asia and northern Australia, along with South American caimans, an alligator-like reptile, feast on snakes small and large.
Many other animals in the world will, given the opportunity, eat a snake, making the wild a dangerous place for even the largest and toughest snakes.
Humans And Snakes
Snakes are often eaten by humans throughout the world, even in the United States.
In southwestern states like Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, rattlesnakes are served in restaurants.
Wild snakes do have the potential to carry parasites and other diseases, so take care.
In some parts of China, snake is served as part of their cuisine and other parts of the snake, like the skin is dried, ground into a powder form, and used for medicinal purposes.
Aside from eating a snake, many people see snakes as pests and something to be gotten rid of.
In rural areas, snakes are much more common and just a part of life, but people still want nothing to do with them.
Some species of snakes have been introduced in parts of the U.S. and are now considered invasive.
Venomous snakes create fear in families and for household pets who could threaten the snake and induce a bite.
Keep snakes in your yard in control with proper yard maintenance and regular home upkeep.
You likely wonāt eliminate all snakes, but it will help you from being overrun.
If you are worried about a large or venomous snake, call your local animal control and see how they might help you.
What Do Snakes Eat?
Snakes are actually predators in their own right.
These animals are carnivores meaning they survive on a diet of meat, avoiding any plant material.
No matter the location of snakes throughout their world, their diet remains relatively similar.
Snakes survive on a diet made up of various amphibians, mammals, small birds, reptiles, fish, and insects.
Some will also ingest the eggs of other snakes if they find them.
What kind of prey a snake eats primarily depends on the size of the snake.
Large snakes consume larger prey, like a rabbit or larger rodent, but small snakes will only eat small prey like insects.
Some of the largest snakes, like pythons or anacondas, might eat something as large as a pig.
Whether the snake is living in the trees or on the forest floor, in Asia or the United States, they will only be interested in eating meat.
Conclusion
Snakes in the wild face a world of danger from many predators.
From birds of prey to mammals and other snakes, their world is full of other animals looking to make the snake their next meal.
We hope you now have a better understanding of what eats snakes and what they will face in their natural habitat.Ā
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