Snake Predation: 30 Animals Known for Eating Snakes

Snakes, often considered dangerous predators, are not at the top of the food chain. Many animals around the world hunt and eat snakes.

From powerful birds of prey like eagles and hawks to stealthy mammals like badgers and mongooses, these animals have unique adaptations that allow them to take down even venomous snakes.

Some have strong jaws to crush their prey, while others use quick reflexes or sharp nails. Reptiles, fish, and even certain insects have also developed ways to hunt and consume snakes.

This article explores the fascinating world of these snake-eating animals, their hunting techniques, and the types of snakes they prey on.

It offers readers insight into how nature maintains ecosystem balance through predator-prey relationships.

List of Animals that Kill and Eat Snakes

1. Wolverine

Overview: The wolverine is a muscular and stocky animal, similar in appearance to a small bear but more closely related to weasels.
Hunting and Killing Method: Wolverines are fierce predators that use their strength to overpower snakes, typically crushing them with their strong jaws or claws.
Diet: While wolverines eat a variety of animals, including rodents and birds, they are opportunistic feeders that will happily consume snakes when encountered.
Snake Species Targeted: They typically target smaller or medium-sized non-venomous snakes, using their brute strength to kill.
Geographical Range: Found in northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, particularly in cold, mountainous environments.

2. Mongoose

Overview: Mongooses are small, agile carnivores known for their quick reflexes and snake-fighting abilities. They are often compared to weasels in appearance.
Hunting and Killing Method: Mongooses use their lightning-fast reflexes and agility to avoid snake strikes, typically attacking and biting the snake’s head to kill it.
Diet: Snakes are one of their favorite meals, but they also eat rodents, insects, and small mammals.
Snake Species Targeted: Mongooses are famous for preying on venomous snakes like cobras, as they are resistant to neurotoxins in snake venom.
Geographical Range: Commonly found in Africa and Asia, particularly in savannas, forests, and grasslands.

3. American Badger

Overview: The American badger is a stocky, short-legged mammal with powerful claws used for digging.
Hunting and Killing Method: They are expert diggers who can dig out burrowing snakes and kill them with powerful bites or claws.
Diet: American badgers are primarily carnivorous and feed on a variety of animals, including ground squirrels, lizards, and snakes.
Snake Species Targeted: American badgers are known to prey on rattlesnakes, among other species, using their agility and toughness to attack.
Geographical Range: Found in North America, from Canada to Mexico, particularly in open plains and grasslands.

4. Honey Badger

Overview: The honey badger is a fearless carnivore known for its aggressive behavior and toughness.
Hunting and Killing Method: Honey badgers are immune to certain venoms, allowing them to take on venomous snakes. They typically crush the snake’s head with their strong jaws.
Diet: Their diet includes venomous snakes, birds, and small mammals. They are highly opportunistic hunters.
Snake Species Targeted: They frequently target cobras and other venomous snakes.
Geographical Range: Found in parts of Africa, Southwest Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, particularly in dry savannas and grasslands.

5. Bobcat

Overview: Bobcats are medium-sized wildcats with tufted ears and spotted coats, known for their stealth and hunting abilities.
Hunting and Killing Method: Bobcats ambush their prey, including snakes, pouncing and delivering powerful bites to immobilize them.
Diet: Snakes are part of their varied diet, which also includes rabbits, rodents, and birds.
Snake Species Targeted: They hunt small to medium-sized snakes, such as rattlesnakes, using their agility and strength.
Geographical Range: Native to North America, bobcats are commonly found in forests, swamps, and deserts.

6. Raccoon

Overview: Raccoons are small, highly intelligent mammals known for their dexterous paws and ability to adapt to various environments.
Hunting and Killing Method: Raccoons use their sharp claws and intelligence to catch and kill snakes, often ambushing them in forested areas.
Diet: Raccoons are omnivores, and while snakes are not a primary food source, they will eat them opportunistically.
Snake Species Targeted: They usually target smaller, non-venomous snakes.
Geographical Range: Found throughout North America, especially near water sources like rivers and marshes.

7. Skunk

Overview: Skunks are small, black-and-white striped mammals known for their defensive spray but also capable hunters.
Hunting and Killing Method: Skunks use their sharp claws and teeth to dig out burrowing snakes and kill them with bites.
Diet: Snakes are part of their varied diet, which includes insects, small mammals, and fruits.
Snake Species Targeted: They hunt smaller snakes and are known to target burrowing species.
Geographical Range: Skunks are native to North America and can be found in forests, grasslands, and even suburban areas.

8. Civet

Overview: Civets are small, cat-like mammals found in tropical regions, known for their agility and predatory skills.
Hunting and Killing Method: Civets use quick reflexes and sharp teeth to catch and kill snakes, particularly when threatened.
Diet: They are omnivorous, and snakes are not their primary food, but civets will opportunistically prey on them.
Snake Species Targeted: They typically target smaller, non-venomous snakes.
Geographical Range: Found in Africa and Southeast Asia, civets are common in rainforests and tropical savannas.

9. Meerkat

Overview: Meerkats are small, highly social mammals living in groups known for their vigilance.
Hunting and Killing Method: Meerkats often work together to kill snakes, using their numbers to overwhelm the snake and deliver bites.
Diet: Snakes are part of their diet, along with insects, lizards, and small mammals.
Snake Species Targeted: Meerkats primarily target smaller, non-venomous snakes but can take on venomous species in groups.
Geographical Range: Native to southern Africa, meerkats are commonly found in desert regions.

10. Opossum

Overview: Opossums are small to medium-sized marsupials known for their adaptability and resistance to venom.
Hunting and Killing Method: Opossums use their sharp teeth to bite and kill snakes, relying on their immunity to certain venoms.
Diet: Opossums are omnivorous, and while snakes are not a primary food source, they will eat them if the opportunity arises.
Snake Species Targeted: They are known to target venomous snakes like rattlesnakes due to their resistance to venom.
Geographical Range: Commonly found in North America, particularly in forests and urban areas.

11. Wild Boar

Overview: Wild boars are large, powerful animals known for their aggressive nature and varied diet.
Hunting and Killing Method: Wild boars use their strong tusks to kill snakes, often trampling or goring them.
Diet: While primarily herbivorous, wild boars will opportunistically eat snakes when they encounter them.
Snake Species Targeted: They usually target smaller or medium-sized non-venomous snakes.
Geographical Range: Found in forests and grasslands across Europe, Asia, and North America.

12. Binturong

Overview: Binturongs are tree-dwelling mammals with long, prehensile tails, also known as bearcats.
Hunting and Killing Method: Binturongs use their climbing ability and sharp claws to catch and kill snakes in trees or on the ground.
Diet: They are omnivores and eat snakes, fruits, and small mammals.
Snake Species Targeted: Binturongs typically target small to medium-sized snakes, especially those found in their arboreal habitat.
Geographical Range: Native to Southeast Asia, they inhabit rainforests and dense jungles.

13. Hedgehog

Overview: Hedgehogs are small, spiny mammals known for their ability to roll into a ball to protect themselves.
Hunting and Killing Method: Hedgehogs use their sharp teeth to bite and kill snakes, often targeting them after striking the hedgehog’s spines.
Diet: Hedgehogs are insectivores but will also eat small snakes and amphibians.
Snake Species Targeted: They primarily target small, non-venomous snakes, but due to partial immunity, they can survive venomous bites.
Geographical Range: Found in Europe, Asia, and Africa, hedgehogs are common in forests, grasslands, and gardens.

14. Red-tailed Hawk

Overview: The red-tailed hawk is a large bird of prey known for its keen eyesight and powerful talons.
Hunting and Killing Method: Red-tailed hawks swoop down on snakes from the air, using their sharp talons to catch and kill the snakes.
Diet: While their diet primarily consists of small mammals, they also prey on snakes, which are a regular part of their meals.
Snake Species Targeted: They commonly target smaller snakes but can also take down venomous species like rattlesnakes.
Geographical Range: They are found across North America and commonly occur in open fields, deserts, and grasslands.

15. Secretary Bird

Overview: The secretary bird is a large, terrestrial bird known for its long legs and distinctive hunting style.
Hunting and Killing Method: Secretary birds stomp on snakes with their powerful legs, using their sharp claws and speed to kill the snake before consuming it.
Diet: Snakes make up a significant portion of their diet, particularly venomous species like cobras and vipers.
Snake Species Targeted: They often hunt venomous snakes, using their speed and agility to avoid strikes.
Geographical Range: Native to sub-Saharan Africa, these birds are commonly found in savannas and grasslands.

16. Great Horned Owl

Overview: The great horned owl is a large, nocturnal bird of prey with sharp talons and a distinctive “horned” appearance.
Hunting and Killing Method: These owls silently swoop down on snakes, catching them with their strong talons and breaking their spine or crushing their skull.
Diet: They have a diverse diet that includes small mammals, birds, and snakes, which they hunt at night.
Snake Species Targeted: Great horned owls typically prey on smaller, non-venomous, and venomous snakes.
Geographical Range: Found throughout the Americas, particularly in forests, grasslands, and suburban areas.

17. Long-eared Owl

Overview: Long-eared owls are medium-sized birds of prey known for their long ear tufts and excellent night vision.
Hunting and Killing Method: These owls hunt snakes by using their sharp talons to grasp and kill the prey quickly.
Diet: While primarily eating small mammals, they will also consume snakes if available.
Snake Species Targeted: They mainly target smaller, non-venomous snakes.
Geographical Range: They are found in North America, Europe, and Asia, commonly in forests and grasslands.

18. Snake Eagle

Overview: The snake eagle is a bird of prey specialized in hunting snakes, known for its exceptional speed and strength.
Hunting and Killing Method: Snake eagles attack snakes by grabbing them with their talons and tearing them apart with their beaks.
Diet: As their name suggests, snakes, including venomous species like cobras and vipers, are their primary diet.
Snake Species Targeted: They specialize in hunting large venomous snakes, using their agility to avoid strikes.
Geographical Range: Found in Africa and parts of Asia, they inhabit savannas, forests, and grasslands.

19. Roadrunner

Overview: Roadrunners are fast, ground-dwelling birds known for their agility and speed.
Hunting and Killing Method: Roadrunners chase down snakes, using their speed to strike at the snake’s head and then slam it against the ground to kill it.
Diet: While they eat various animals, including insects and small mammals, snakes are a key part of their diet.
Snake Species Targeted: Roadrunners often hunt small snakes, including venomous species like rattlesnakes.
Geographical Range: Native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, they are commonly found in deserts and open grasslands.

20. Harpy Eagle

Overview: The harpy eagle is one of the largest and most powerful birds of prey, known for its sharp talons and incredible strength.
Hunting and Killing Method: Harpy eagles use their strong talons to grab and crush snakes, often killing them instantly.
Diet: While primarily eating small to medium-sized mammals and birds, they will opportunistically prey on snakes.
Snake Species Targeted: They usually target larger snakes, including both venomous and non-venomous species.
Geographical Range: Harpy eagles are rare and highly specialized hunters found in the rainforests of Central and South America.

21. Buzzard

Overview: Buzzards are medium-sized birds of prey that are highly adaptable and feed on various animals.
Hunting and Killing Method: Buzzards use their sharp beaks and talons to catch and kill snakes, often swooping down from above.
Diet: Their diet consists of small mammals, birds, and snakes, which they hunt opportunistically.
Snake Species Targeted: They typically target smaller non-venomous snakes, though some may also prey on venomous species.
Geographical Range: Found across Europe, Asia, and Africa, buzzards thrive in a wide range of habitats, from forests to open fields.

22. Crocodile

Overview: Crocodiles are large, powerful reptiles known for their strong jaws and ambush-hunting techniques.
Hunting and Killing Method: Crocodiles ambush snakes, using their massive jaws to instantly crush and kill the prey.
Diet: Crocodiles are carnivorous, and while they prefer fish and mammals, they also consume snakes when the opportunity arises.
Snake Species Targeted: They target a wide range of snakes, including venomous and non-venomous species.
Geographical Range: Found in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas, crocodiles inhabit freshwater rivers, lakes, and swamps.

23. King Cobra

Overview: The king cobra is the world’s longest venomous snake, known for its ability to hunt and eat other snakes.
Hunting and Killing Method: King cobras use their venom to subdue and kill other snakes, swallowing them whole afterward.
Diet: They primarily consume other snakes, including both venomous and non-venomous species.
Snake Species Targeted: Their diet includes kraits, rat snakes, and even other cobras.
Geographical Range: Found in South and Southeast Asia, king cobras prefer forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

24. Reticulated Python

Overview: The reticulated python is one of the longest snakes in the world, known for its immense strength and constricting power.
Hunting and Killing Method: Reticulated pythons use their powerful bodies to constrict and suffocate their prey, including other snakes.
Diet: While they primarily consume mammals and birds, they can kill and eat smaller snakes.
Snake Species Targeted: They target non-venomous snakes and sometimes smaller pythons.
Geographical Range: Native to Southeast Asia, these snakes are found in rainforests, wetlands, and grasslands.

25. Pike

Overview: Pike are aggressive freshwater fish known for their sharp teeth and ambush hunting style.
Hunting and Killing Method: Pike lie in wait in shallow water, striking at snakes that come near, using their sharp teeth to tear them apart.
Diet: They primarily feed on fish but will opportunistically eat small snakes if encountered.
Snake Species Targeted: They usually target water snakes or small terrestrial snakes that enter their habitat.
Geographical Range: Pike are found in freshwater lakes and rivers in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.

26. Bull Shark

Overview: Bull sharks are large, aggressive sharks known for their ability to thrive in fresh and saltwater.
Hunting and Killing Method: Bull sharks are ambush predators that use their sharp teeth to catch and kill prey, including snakes.
Diet: While mainly eating fish, they consume snakes if they enter their freshwater habitats.
Snake Species Targeted: They prey on aquatic snakes and occasionally sea snakes.
Geographical Range: Found in warm coastal waters and freshwater rivers worldwide.

27. Catfish

Overview: Catfish are large, bottom-dwelling fish known for their powerful jaws and wide diet.
Hunting and Killing Method: Catfish use their powerful mouths to engulf snakes that come into the water.
Diet: Their diet includes fish, amphibians, and occasionally small snakes.
Snake Species Targeted: They typically target small aquatic snakes or snakes that accidentally enter their habitat.
Geographical Range: Found in freshwater environments worldwide, especially in rivers, lakes, and ponds.

28. Alligator Gar

Overview: The alligator gar is a large freshwater fish with sharp teeth and a long, snout-like jaw.
Hunting and Killing Method: Alligator gar use their sharp teeth to catch and tear apart snakes that enter the water.
Diet: They primarily eat fish but will also consume snakes if available.
Snake Species Targeted: They target water snakes and smaller terrestrial snakes that venture into water bodies.
Geographical Range: Found in rivers and lakes in North America, especially in the southeastern United States.

29. Tarantula

Overview: Tarantulas are large, hairy spiders known for their strong venom and ambush-hunting techniques.
Hunting and Killing Method: Tarantulas ambush small snakes, using their venom to immobilize and kill them before consuming.
Diet: While their diet mostly consists of insects, they occasionally prey on small snakes.
Snake Species Targeted: They typically target juvenile or small-sized snakes.
Geographical Range: Found in tropical and desert regions across the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

30. Redback Spider

Overview: The redback spider is a small but highly venomous spider found in Australia.
Hunting and Killing Method: Redback spiders use their venomous bite to paralyze small snakes caught in their webs.
Diet: Their diet consists of insects but will consume small snakes if trapped in their webs.
Snake Species Targeted: They typically target juvenile snakes or small species.
Geographical Range: Native to Australia, redback spiders are often found in urban and rural areas.

Conclusion

From fierce hunters like wolverines and badgers to birds of prey such as hawks and owls, each animal has its method of hunting and killing snakes.

These creatures help keep the snake population in check and contribute to the balance of ecosystems. Even some snakes themselves are predators of other snakes.

This natural cycle of predators and prey ensures that no species dominates the environment.

By understanding the diverse range of animals that eat snakes, we gain a deeper appreciation for nature’s complex and interconnected relationships that help maintain harmony in the animal kingdom.