Who is the enemy of snakes?, so well protected by nature? Do they even have them? It is generally accepted that snakes have a fierce hatred for people: when they meet a person, the snake rushes to attack, and if you run away from it, it chases for a long time. In fact, this is not at all the case. Snakes feed on rodents, birds, insects, and bird eggs, but they are indifferent to humans.
But if not people, then who are their original, real enemies? There are many of them. One of them is the Brazilian mussurana snake, reaching 150-230 cm in length. For this snake, harmless to us, a meeting with a highly poisonous two-meter spear-headed keffiyeh ( Trimeresurus) great luck. She goes hunting at night and watches for snakes descending from the shore to a watering hole. Noticing the kufito, the mussurana quickly pounces on her, intertwines with her in a ball, digs her teeth into her neck and, moving her teeth, gets to her head. Holding the head of the keffiyeh between his teeth, the mussurana turns it, like a nut being unscrewed, 360°. She breaks the bones of the spine, and the snake becomes paralyzed. Ingestion of mussuran begins from the head. The paralyzed keffiyeh gradually disappears into the snake's mouth. In those cases when the victim is too large and cannot be swallowed whole, only half of the keffiyeh ends up in the stomach. The second half sticking out of the mouth is gradually drawn into the stomach by the mussurana until it is completely swallowed.
Mussurana ( Clelia clelia) is the most dangerous enemy of Brazilian pit snakes, therefore the scientific institute for the production of antivenom serums in the city of Sao Paulo strongly recommends protecting and breeding this extremely useful snake.
In order to combat poisonous snakes, patronage of various enemies of snakes may be important: hedgehogs, ferrets, weasels, martens and many birds - spotted eagles, buzzards, crows, magpies, vultures, peacocks. Snake venom has little or no effect on them. They are zealous snake hunters and do not miss an opportunity to feast on them.
I had to see a hedgehog fight with vipers in a terrarium. When let in to the snakes, the hedgehog felt belligerent, snorted, bristled with its spines, and finally went on the offensive. The vipers hissed excitedly and rushed at the hedgehog, but invariably met the thorny armor. During an hour of tireless struggle, the hedgehog was bitten twice, but seemingly without consequences. He remained energetic in the attack and, in the end, overpowering the vipers, calmly ate them.
It has been experimentally established that a hedgehog would need to be injected with up to 20 mg of viper venom for it to die. During the described fight with snakes, it is unlikely that so much poison entered the hedgehog’s blood. In addition, his blood serum has the property of neutralizing the poison that has entered it. A hedgehog is 40 times more resistant to viper venom than a guinea pig.
Immune to viper and pig venom. When fighting a snake, the pig tries to trample it underfoot. She exposes the snake’s sides and hides its tender snout from the bite. Bites to the fatty sides of a pig are not scary. The fat-rich subcutaneous tissue has very few blood vessels, and the poison cannot enter the blood.
The semi-desert zone of Mexico is home to a tireless pursuer and destroyer of poisonous snakes - a bird close to cuckoos. This is a California plantain cuckoo ( Geococcyx californianus) - road runner, or walker. The bird reaches 60 cm in length. It fully lives up to its name: it constantly rushes on long and strong legs along roads, among bushes and cacti, as if tirelessly looking for someone.
Having met a rattlesnake, the plantain cuckoo, not paying attention to the threatening pose and the rustling of the rattle, attacks it. The bird crouches to the ground, spreads its wings wide, its feathers stand on end. The tail, folded in the form of a straight and narrow ruler, sometimes rises vertically, sometimes bends sharply to the sides and serves as the bird’s rudder when jumping. In defense, the rattlesnake attacks itself, making numerous attempts to bite the bird on the wings or legs, but each time it hits its head in the feathers. The bird's continuous attacks eventually exhaust the snake so much that it begins to retreat, backing away from the bird. But she becomes even more persistent in her attacks, all the time trying to grab the snake by the neck with a beak as strong as flat teeth. Having grabbed a snake during one of its jumps, it breaks its cervical vertebrae and ruptures its spinal cord. After this, the bird pecks at the brain and starts breakfast.
Since snakes have so many natural enemies, should humans be included in their long list? Of course not. Many cases can be cited showing that snakes themselves avoid people.
While visiting the area around Puebla, Mexico, I saw a rattlesnake. My companion’s dog, who had excellent scent, rushed into the thicket and made a stand in front of a large snake, whose head we saw among the foliage. Unaware of the danger threatening her, the dog came very close to the snake. And then the rattlesnake, slightly raising its tail, shook its terrible rattle, as if warning the dog. It took a long time before the dog was recalled. This case demonstrates how the reptile hesitates before striking and biting the enemy. Quite often we pass next to snakes, and they, hiding, try not to give away their presence.
In the cold and cold, a snake can sneak into a person’s home with the most peaceful intentions - to warm itself. On a cold May night, I had to spend the night in a hut in the foothills of Alagez in the village of Inaklu, in Armenia, very close to the glaciers. I wrapped myself in a thin blanket and chattered my teeth from the cold all night. Imagine my surprise when in the morning, getting out of bed, I saw Radde’s viper, softened by the warmth, in the folds of the sheet ( Vipera raddei). As punishment for such insolence, the viper was immediately caught and placed in a canvas bag. I joined it with other poisonous snakes collected the day before in the Alagez rocks.
Here is the story of the famous mountaineer Tenzing, who climbed to the top of Everest in 1953.
“We made a stop on the shore of Lake Dutee Tal. I stretched out in the sun and dozed off, covering my face with my hat, and suddenly, through my doze, I felt that the hat seemed to become heavier. I extended my hand to check what was the matter. My fingers did not find a hat, but something cold and slippery. While I was sleeping, a snake settled on the brim of my hat and also took a nap in the sun! I immediately woke up, screamed at the top of my lungs and threw my hat as far as possible.”
The members of the expedition who were next to Tenzing also jumped to their feet. They rushed to the snake and killed it. Local guides accompanying the expedition began to explain to Tenzing that he had made a mistake. When the snake itself comes to a person, it brings happiness. According to local customs, a man with a snake on his head can become a king.
Literature: E. F. Talyzin “Poisonous animals of land and sea.” Publishing house "Knowledge", Moscow, 1970
Who eats snakes, you ask? In fact, a whole bunch of different species of animals kill creepy crawlies, including a lot of birds - owls, hawks, falcons, herons, etc. Many snakes eat other members of their own species. So basically birds and snakes themselves are the most common enemies for snakes.
However, many species of mammals also take part in eating creepy crawlies. Of course, people are their worst enemies, but in this case we are talking about enemies in the wild.
Mongoose
The mongoose is a wonderful creature. Snakes are always on the mongoose's menu. Although it is an affectionate animal, in addition to creepy crawlies, it eats pests such as rodents, insects, worms and lizards. Thanks to specialized acetylcholine receptors in the body, the mongoose is immune to the effects of snake venom. This ability, combined with her thick layer of fur, makes her a formidable killer when going up against a deadly snake.
Due to their indiscriminate diet, this animal cannot be imported into countries not native to its habitat. For example, once it was already brought to Eastern India to fight rodents and snakes, but instead the animal began to eat everything, thereby causing irreversible damage to local wildlife.
Honey badger
There is another insidious killer, an animal that “doesn’t care.” Of course it’s a honey badger. The honey badger of the weasel family is immune even to cobra venom and kills “creepers” by crushing their heads with its powerful jaws. This animal is fearless and is known to even drive away young lions when they attack.
Pets
Cats and dogs can sometimes attack them. But naturally, the last thing a pet owner wants to see in the yard is a battle with a poisonous viper.
For example, the Scottish Terrier is one of the dog breeds that can hunt reptiles. But again, she is not immune to poison. This breed was created for the purpose of hunting rodents and snakes, which is now instinctively ingrained in its behavior.
Jerzy
Nature has developed a way to control the snake population. They are certainly not at the top of the food chain. One of the natural predators for poisonous and common species is the hedgehog. This docile, attractive animal can cause fatal damage to her and then simply eat her.
Hedgehogs have fantastic defense against almost any attack. Quills all over the body make attacking this tiny creature a most unpleasant experience. Since the snake attacks with lightning speed, it also collides with many needles with lightning speed. When the hedgehog believes that the prey is sufficiently weakened, it begins to climb on top of the reptile and gnaw its vertebrae. Its natural resistance to venom helps it withstand numerous bites. However, it is not protected from poison in the same way as the mongoose or honey badger. Therefore, he is unlikely to be able to cope with the king cobra.
Birds
Birds are also big fans of snake meat. Owls and hawks have no problem catching their prey, as they have crushing talons and attack from above to prevent the prey from escaping.
We recommend reading: " "They are very wary of birds, which is the reason why they are so reluctant to move around wide open spaces.
Snakes
Cannibalism is very rampant among them. If the birds were unable to get their prey, then their relatives have a good chance of doing so. They are their own enemies. If two creepy crawlies meet and one is larger than the other, the smaller reptile could become dinner. The king snake is one of the most feared cannibals in the snake world. The main food of this individual is other representatives of its family. Although it is not venomous, it has no problem with rattlesnakes. Unfortunately for the second, the kingsnake is immune to its venom.
Cobras are another species that practices cannibalism.
Lynx and wolverine
Other wild animals that may eat a venomous snake include lynx and wolverine. Both of these predators have thick coats and agile reflexes, making them good predators of crawling creatures.
Poultry
Chicks, adult chickens and especially turkeys are avid predators of small snake species. These birds love to eat creepy crawlies. Therefore, if the prey is small enough, they will happily eat it.
However, this does not mean that the lion's share of birds do not die from snake bites. Chickens, like any other poultry, are not immune to their venom, although feathers may provide natural protection against the bite of small crawlers.
Wild snakes are predators. They never eat plant foods. Snakes exist on all continents. There are none in Antarctica. Most snakes live in the subtropics as well as the tropics. There are both harmless and dangerous snakes. Large snakes include the water boa, anaconda and reticulated python. They swallow their prey whole, thanks to the caustic digestive juices that accumulate in the body. Snakes lack powerful teeth. That is, they cannot chew food. They only have thin teeth, which are very similar to thin needles. These thin teeth help snakes obtain food. For example, a python, due to the structure of its teeth, can eat animals such as leopard and deer.
What do snakes eat?
Snakes eat almost everything they find in wildlife. They hunt shrews, frogs, rats, grasshoppers, mice, antelopes and birds. Snakes can also eat bird eggs. Large species of snakes feed on mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians. Small snakes can eat other invertebrates as well as insects. They capture prey while still alive. When a snake swallows its prey, it spreads the branches of its lower jaw wide. This is possible thanks to elastic ligaments. The snake can swallow large prey within just an hour. When a snake swallows its food, it can breathe. Thus, snakes can eat quite large prey. Some snakes only feed a few times a year, thanks to the fact that they eat very large animals.
For example, non-venomous snakes can swallow prey alive. They can also strangle prey with their body rings. Poisonous snakes, thanks to their venom-conducting teeth, kill their prey with poison. Small snakes hunt termites. But there are also snakes that eat other snakes. For example, the copperhead snake hunts lizards. But it can also eat a small snake or viper. There are types of snakes that eat only one type of food. This is, for example, a snake arrow. She only eats lizards. And the egg snake feeds exclusively on bird eggs. Snakes prey on small fish and frogs.
What Do Pet Snakes Eat?
A domestic snake is already a pet. He cannot be released to hunt small rodents and rats. A snake is a type of animal that requires special conditions of detention, as well as attention. It is better to buy a snake in specialized places, since these animals are already accustomed to captivity, to artificial food and light. Not all snakes eat the same food. For example, some eat ordinary mice, while others eat lizards or frogs. It all depends on the type of snake you want to purchase.
Snakes occupy a special place among exotic animals, which have recently become popular to keep at home. Both poisonous and non-dangerous reptiles live at home. Next, we’ll talk about what these pets eat and whether their diet differs from the natural diet.
The reptiles in question eat small animals. There are no reptiles that eat plants - they are absolutely all predators. 
Their menu is very diverse and depends on size and species - it can be both small insects and larger mammals. Some species eat absolutely everything they catch, and some are quite selective. The diet directly depends on the habitat.
Did you know?The oldest snake in the world- Popeye the boa lived for almost forty-one years.
In the wild
The diet of reptiles depends on preferences, habitat and size. It is difficult to list the prey that they can consume, so we will focus on the most common types.
| Type of food | Note |
| Insects | Representatives of this class form the basis of the diet of many poisonous and non-venomous small snakes. Baby snakes also begin to feed on them. Some reptiles, such as blind snakes, can eat ants and termites |
| Mammals | A reptile, if it feeds on mammals, can catch and eat any animal smaller than it. The diet chain begins with a small mouse and ends with an antelope. The only things snakes won't eat are things that are too thick or prickly, like hedgehogs. |
| Birds and their eggs | Those species of reptiles that, as a rule, have adapted to climb trees and hunt there, feast on birds. They also eat bird eggs |
| Fish | Fish are also the creatures that reptiles eat. They feed on those species that live in or near water |
| Amphibians | Many reptiles eat amphibians, which are abundant in their habitat. These could be frogs, salamanders, newts, worms |
| Shellfish | The thick-headed snake, which is found in Asia and America, prefers to feast on snails and slugs. Using the lower jaw and teeth in the form of a hook, she removes the mollusk from the shell and eats it |
| Other snakes | It is very unusual that some species of reptiles eat their own kind. For some, relatives are an “additive” to the diet, while others, such as the Brazilian mussurana, eat only them. |
There have been cases when people were found in the stomachs of large snakes, such as pythons and boa constrictors. There are even photographic facts of these events. However, it cannot be said that these reptiles consider humans as potential prey: this is an exception to the rule.
What to feed at home
You need to feed reptiles at home the same as they eat in the wild. As a rule, snakes are kept at home and eat rodents, small birds, their eggs, amphibians and insects. There are rare cases when large reptiles are kept, which, accordingly, feed on large mammals. 
It is recommended to give food to reptiles either already dead or stunned: it can be fresh or frozen. The terrarium must have water.
Important!These reptilesYou should not give milk: their body is not able to digest it, and a disorder may occur.
The reptile does not chew its prey, but swallows it whole. Before this, a poisonous reptile injects poison, which, in addition to killing, also helps gastric juices digest the victim. Some species also suffocate it, and some eat it without killing it at all. 
The snake's swallowing process is very interesting, since in many cases the food is larger in size than the hunter. The upper and lower jaws are very mobile, as they are freely attached to the bones of the skull. In addition, the latter consists of two halves and is stretchable. The reptile firmly holds prey with its lower jaw, and pushes it through with its upper jaw.
Important!When feeding poisonous reptiles at home, be sure to follow safety precautions and have an antidote on hand, just in case.
When food enters the esophagus through the throat, its muscles begin to work, which then push it into the stomach. It, in turn, contains very caustic juices that promote its digestion. This process can take several days. There are times when the snake still cannot push food through, then it simply regurgitates it.
Why do snakes eat themselves?
Herpetologists give several reasons why snakes eat their own kind. Some species do this because they will eat anything, and smaller relatives simply got in the way during the meal. Others eat snakes because it is the basis of their diet - it was intended to be so by nature. 
There is a hypothesis that the reptile in question is convenient to swallow due to the structure of its body. It is also possible that snakes are provoked into cannibalism by the smell of prey that remains on their relatives.
There are snake species that eat their young and the remains of their eggs. This is done to restore strength when the reptile is weak after breeding.
Did you know?Snakes have eyelids over their eyes, and they are always closed. But this does not prevent the reptile from seeing, since they are transparent.
The diet of snakes is as interesting as their behavior. Their diet is varied and sometimes very unusual. If you keep these reptiles at home, they need to be fed food that is as close as possible to what they eat in the wild.
The name of this feathered predator suggests that the basis of its diet is snakes, although it also preys on lizards, some amphibians and small mammals. The snake eagle has many names. In almost all languages, his name means "snake eater." Only the British call this bird the “short-fingered eagle,” which is not entirely true. But the specific name is translated from Latin as “chubby,” which quite accurately characterizes the shape of the head of this bird.
The lifestyle of the snake eagle has not been studied in much detail, because they are not often found. Nevertheless, observations by ornithologists made it possible to find out that these unusual representatives of accipitridae are not only stern, gloomy hunters. The female and male often play happily, frolicking and chasing each other. Snake eaters are not uncommonly timid birds. They always behave extremely secretly near the nest, flying away from it as soon as they see a person approaching. Even a grown-up chick never tries to defend itself with its beak or claws, as the chicks of other birds of prey do - it simply hides in the nest.
The snake eagle is a very rare endangered bird species, listed in the Red Book of Russia.
May worries
The snake eagle chooses wooded areas, as it builds its nests in trees high from the ground, and occasionally on rocky slopes. Birds living in the northern territories leave their inhabited areas in the fall, returning only in May. During this period, the bird couple equips an old nest or builds a new one. The dwelling is very small, so that an adult bird can barely fit in it. It consists of dry branches, lined with leaves, grass and scraps of snake skins. Birds insert branches with green leaves into the nest, which create additional camouflage and help hide the nest from sunlight.
Mating is preceded by mating games, when the birds, chasing each other, soar high and, having described several circles, sharply descend. At the end of spring, the female lays a single egg. Incubation lasts about 45-48 days. Basically, this is done by the female, and the male hunts, providing food for his girlfriend, and only sometimes they change roles for a while.
Childhood with snakes
The chick is covered with white downy feathers, gradually this outfit is replaced by plumage characteristic of adult birds. The parents take care of the chick until it leaves the nest, that is, 70-80 days after hatching. The male and female feed it with snakes, which they catch, swallow (but not completely) and bring to the nest. The chick gradually pulls the snake out, grabbing it by the tail. Having pulled out the prey from the parent's throat, the young snake eagle begins to swallow it itself.
The chick feeds exclusively on reptiles, and already in adulthood begins to eat other animals. Fully fledged and grown young birds independently go after prey. As a rule, their parents do not teach them how to hunt snakes; the chicks cope on their own, deftly capturing snakes with sharp claws and attacking them with their beaks.
It is very difficult for parents to feed even one chick, and this is one of the reasons for the low number of snake eaters.
Dangerous food
During the cold season, snakes fall into suspended animation and remain motionless in their shelter for a long time. Snake eaters begin to actively hunt only at the end of May, when the sun warms the ground well and snakes crawl out of their shelters. The daily routine of birds depends on the activity of snakes and weather conditions. Usually the hunt begins around noon and ends quite early, before it gets dark.
Mostly snake eaters catch snakes and snakes, but they also happen to deal with truly dangerous snakes: viper, viper or copperhead. That is why the snake eagle’s movements are fast and precise, because a mistake or delay can lead to the bird missing its prey or getting bitten. Usually, agility and quick reaction help the predator to avoid danger; moreover, its legs are covered with horny scutes that protect against snake attacks. However, failures also happen. Snake venom is not harmless to birds, although it is not always fatal. A serpent eater that has been bitten by a snake may get sick and take quite a long time to recover. Predators hunt not only from the air; sometimes they pursue their prey on the ground or in shallow water.
Narrow diet
Animals such as the snake eagle, with a highly specialized diet, are called stenophages. This phenomenon is typical for many insects, certain species of worms, crustaceans and mollusks and is much less common among mammals and birds.
The most famous stenophages are the koala bear, which feeds on eucalyptus leaves, and the giant panda, which eats young shoots of several types of bamboo.
On the one hand, stenophagy helps mitigate competition among species with similar nutritional regimes; on the other hand, when environmental conditions change, it leads to the threat of extinction or sharp fluctuations in population numbers.
Brief characteristics of the snake eagle
Class: birds
Squad: Falconiformes
Family: hawks
Genus: real snake eaters
View: snake eagle
Other names: serpent eagle, crachun
Latin name: Circaetus gallicus or Circaetus ferox
Size: body length - 67-72 cm, wing length - 50 cm, wingspan - 160-190 cm
Weight: 1.2-2.3 kg
Color: the top is brownish-gray with blurred streaks, the bottom is light with streaks, the head, neck and crop are brown, the tail is transversely brown striped
Lifespan: about 17 years old.