I took this picture of a water snake trying to swallow a live bluegill at the pond behind my house earlier this week.
I’ve always heard that snakes have the ability to unhinge their jaws and swallow food that is much larger than their mouths.
I’ve seen rattlesnakes trying to swallow whole cottontail rabbits, and I’ve seen lots of snakes with big bulges in their bellies, suggesting they swallowed large items.
But I’d like to hear what you think about this picture.
Do you think this snake actually managed to swallow this fish? Or do you think the snake choked to death trying?
Before taking this photo, I was seeing this snake on a pretty regular basis. I have not seen it since.
So I’m really wondering.
I’d like to hear some thoughts from other folks.
in The Great Outdoors
Responses to “So, about this snake picture…”
May 30th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Is it possible that that was the biggest meal its had in a while, and it is digesting now. Maybe thats why you haven’t seen it lately.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Jason and Charles are most likely right about this.
Like most animals, snakes have an innate ability to “size up” their prey so that a snake choking on its meal is a rarity. After swallowing a large meal (in relation to the snake’s size), snakes usually do “den up” and lie virtually motionless while digesting their meal. They do this because while they are this full, they themselves are very vulnerable to predators. A meal this size can last that snake up to several months since they are cold blooded and need no food to run their internal temperature system like warm blooded animals do. That can take up to 30% of the food intake of a warm blooded animal in cold weather. After a meal like this, this snake can go literally 6 months or longer without eating. Large Asian and South American snakes have been known to go a year without eating after ingesting a 100 pound animal. I personally have seen snakes in captivity go for 3 to 6 months without food with no discernable ill effects.
I am so glad that you are not an “all snakes are bad” person. I live on a lake in North Mississippi and almost all of the people living on this body of water kill every snake they see. Then they wonder why their yard is torn up by voles and field mice party in their tool sheds!! I personally transplanted several black King Snakes to my 1 acre yard and they have thrived on the voles and mice while my yard does not have one single tunnel running through it. Much better than poison.
You will likely see this snake again within a few weeks. Keep us posted.
June 1st, 2008 at 5:07 pm
What did you think water snakes ate any way? Ought to see one eat a small catfish…spines and all….use your anti-snake assalt weapon..the common garden hoe….works wonders on snakes.
June 1st, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Remember, Art, I didn’t say I WONT EVER mess with him. But I’ve been sharing a shoreline with that snake for more than a year now, and it has never bothered me. I figure I’ll just live and let live.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
That is one fat water snake. We have a few that hang out at our boat dock. They are very similar to copperheads in body coloring/pattern. If one is up near the house or in the shed, it is dead. They (snakes) can’t talk and I don’t take prisoners. I leave the ones on the water to themselves unless my wife is with me.
June 7th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
It’s really hard to tell a banded water snake from a cottonmouth, even at close range. The water snakes markings are almost the same as an immature cottonmouth. About the only way I can tell is by the way they swim. Water snakes are ok, but the cottonmouths have to go!
June 8th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
if it cant eat it, it will spit it back out. it cannot choke on it because the airway and throat are in different locations.
it will simply spit it out.
if you have not seen it, then like the guys said above, it is probably digestion and laying low
June 18th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
The snake’s back, looking fat and happy. I guess it swallowed that fish after all.
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