Snake Defense

Snakes, with over 3,000 species worldwide, are one of the largest groups of reptiles.  They are found on every continent except Antarctica and live in every type of habitat including freshwater and saltwater.  They have numerous enemies and have developed defensive strategies enabling them to survive and prosper.

Snakes must deal with threats from a wide range of animals.  Bird species that prey on snakes include raptors, ravens, egrets , and storks.  Nocturnal hunters, including owls, have excellent sight in low-light conditions and often hunt by spotting movement among foliage.  Likewise, during daytime hours, red-tailed hawks and eagles can spot movement on the ground while soaring.  Snakes are normally line-of-sight hunters, and are often unaware of threats from above, giving avian predators a distinct advantage.

_{^{American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus by Florida Fish and Wildlife, Feb 2021; Wolverine by Maia C, Aug 2012; Skunk by D Fletcher, May 2016}}

Most mammal predators are larger, more agile, and faster.  Badger, wolverine, and racoon are all excellent climbers and may hunt from an elevated perch.  Wolverine and skunk are also burrowers that will dig out their prey from underground.  Snakes living in saltwater and freshwater environments are  eaten by predators such as crocodiles and snapping turtles.  In addition, some larger snake species regularly hunt smaller snakes.

Snakes use a number of non-aggressive strategies to avoid confrontation and escape.  Their best defense is to remain hidden, using colors and patterns to break up the outline of their body, allowing the snake to blend with the background foliage and be overlooked by any predators.  Another passive strategy is balling, involving compressing their body into a tight coil or ball, typically with the head tucked in to protect this most vulnerable area.  Playing dead is often an effective means to escape predation, honed to perfection by the Western hognose snake.  This snake convulses its body, rolls onto its back, and lets its tongue loll out of its mouth.  It may vomit or spew blood, release fecal matter or musk, all in its attempt to convince a potential predator that it is already dead and no longer appetizing.

Mimicry is a development that has taken place in some species over long periods of time.  Batesian mimicry is when a harmless species has evolved the coloration of a more dangerous species to fool a predator into leaving it alone.  Scarlet kingsnakes of the southeastern United States are quite harmless but look very much like Eastern coral snakes, a venomous species in that same area.  Auditory mimicry involves creating sounds used by more dangerous snakes.  Fox snakes, found in deciduous forests, often vibrate their tails in leaf litter, making a buzzing noise very similar to the sounds made by rattlesnakes living in the same area.

Snakes often use one or more methods of intimidation.  Bright display colors are found among many venomous species and serve as a warning to potential predators that this snake is dangerous.  Another form of intimidation involves a snake inflating its body or a body part to make it look bigger.  The puff adder inflates its whole body by filling its lung with air.  Cobras hold their heads high and flare out an extra fold of skin on either side of their heads, commonly called “hooding.”  Intimidation may also involve auditory cues including the rattling of a snake’s tail and the hiss emitted by cobras as they bring up their heads.

When the above strategies do not allow the snake to escape, most species will not hesitate to strike.  Several species do not bite, striking with the nose or an open mouth; however, all venomous snakes will bite in self-defense, although they may not inject venom.  A few species are able to spit venom, used purely as an act of self-defense, although if the venom targets an eye or nasal passage, the results can be extremely painful.

Snakes are some of the most interesting species with a lifestyle very different from our own.  They have many strategies for keeping themselves safe from wild predators, and will be around for us to observe, learn about, and be fascinated by.