In the wild, most animals consume anything they can to stay alive. Some creatures evolved to eat nuts,
seeds, or berries, whereas others evolved to devour other animals. Few of these hunters acquired a
liking for and the expertise required to hunt snakes. The practice of regularly eating snakes is known as
ophiophagy, or “snake eating” in Greek. Snakes are a common food item for many animals. Some
animals—like the mongoose—eat snakes almost exclusively, while others depend on them sparingly in
order to thrive. For instance, there are a variety of birds that consume snakes. These avian hunters have
the keen beaks, talons, and hunting instincts necessary to capture snakes in the wild. We’ll discuss many
creatures that eat snakes in this post.
1. Mongoose.
Because they naturally prey on snakes, mongooses can kill them quickly. Snakes,
rodents, lizards, insects, and worms of many different kinds are all consumed by
mongooses.
In their tiny bodies, they have specialized acetylcholine receptors that serve as a
defense mechanism against the lethal venom of snakes. Due to the little risk of
injury from a snake bite or attack, this ability makes mongooses less afraid of
them.
Mongooses’ thick fur makes them a significant threat to snakes, and when
introduced, they can quickly clear infestations of snakes.
2. Cats and Dogs.
In terms of hunting, both cats and dogs are innately curious. Even animals that
have been extensively domesticated and still have basic hunting instincts.
When given the chance, cats and dogs—both of which are natural snake
predators—will kill and consume snakes. It depends on the type of snake and the
breed of cat or dog, but in general, domestic animals that occasionally kill snakes
for entertainment are no match for non-venomous snakes.
3. Birds.
In the wild, birds are one of the snakes’ main predators. Since most birds are known
to have excellent vision, they may see fast-moving snakes from a distance of
many miles.
No snake is safe when there are birds of prey around, and they are typically
considered to be a simple meal for the hungry babies in the nest. There are a few
defensive characteristics that snakes possess that enable them to conceal and
camouflage themselves with little to no movement.
Due to their poor vision, snakes frequently do not realize they are a bird’s target
until it is too late. They instinctively run from birds and other predators unless
they have a benefit like poison or big fangs.
4. Cobras.
The most cannibalistic snake species are the king cobras. Other snakes have
proven to be simple prey for them. Cobras can precisely detect and locate their
prey while moving at a tremendous rate of speed.
With the help of their strong sense of smell, they can target other snakes, wait
patiently for ambush opportunities, and then frighten and kill their unwitting
prey. For smaller snakes like milk snakes and garter snakes, other snakes
represent a considerable risk.
