Squirrels munching on snakes may sound far-fetched, but if you’ve wondered whether these bushy-tailed rodents actually eat serpents, you’re not alone. Many people are curious if squirrels would ever snack on slithering snakes. The short answer is yes, squirrels do sometimes eat snakes.
However, snakes are not a regular part of most squirrels’ diets.
In this detailed article, we’ll explore the complex relationship between squirrels and snakes. We’ll look at the types of squirrels that eat snakes, which snake species are at risk, and why squirrels only occasionally snack on serpents.
We’ll also delve into what snakes typically eat and how they interact with squirrels. Read on to learn everything you need to know about whether squirrels eat snakes.
What Do Squirrels Usually Eat?
Nuts, Seeds, and Fruits
Nuts and seeds are a staple food source for most squirrels. Common nuts that squirrels eat include acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, almonds, and pecans. Squirrels will bury or “cache” nuts and seeds in the ground to store for later consumption, especially during winter when food is scarce.
Popular seeds consumed by squirrels are sunflower, pumpkin, and pine cone seeds. Squirrels also enjoy eating fruits such as berries, apples, pears, and citrus when available.
Tree squirrels like eastern gray squirrels and fox squirrels get a majority of their nutrients from the nuts and seeds of hardwood trees like oaks, hickories, walnuts, and beech. In contrast, ground squirrels like prairie dogs and chipmunks mainly eat seeds from grasses, flowering plants, and grains.
All squirrels depend on nuts and seeds as their primary food source for energy and nutrients.
Mushrooms and Fungi
Many species of squirrels will eat mushrooms and fungi as part of their diverse diet. Squirrels ingest mushrooms for nutrients such as protein, vitamins, carbohydrates, and minerals. Though not all mushrooms are safe, squirrels seem to have a knack for finding and consuming non-toxic fungal varieties.
Tree squirrels often find mushrooms growing in the forests they inhabit. Flying squirrels are especially fond of eating truffles, mushrooms that fruit underground near tree roots. Fungal growths, lichens, and mildewed plant materials are also consumed.
In urban areas, squirrels take advantage of edible mushrooms and fungi growing in yards and parks.
Bird Eggs, Insects, and Small Vertebrates
While nuts and seeds are their primary fare, squirrels also eat supplemental foods when available as part of an opportunistic foraging strategy. Squirrels may eat bird eggs from nests and newly hatched chicks. Insects like caterpillars and beetles are eaten, providing squirrels with protein.
Some small vertebrates are also eaten, such as young mice or snakes. This provides some variety to the standard squirrel diet.
These animal-based foods offer essential nutrients not found in plant materials alone. Caution should be taken however, as these foods could spread parasites or diseases. Most squirrels seem to thrive on an entirely vegan diet, but apparently can’t resist the occasional treat of eggs or bugs!
Which Squirrel Species Eat Snakes?
Ground Squirrels
Ground squirrels such as prairie dogs, chipmunks, and groundhogs are known to occasionally eat snakes. These ground dwelling rodents tend to live in areas where rattlesnakes, gopher snakes, and other small snake species are common. When an opportunity presents itself, they will attack and eat snakes.
Ground squirrels have developed some resistance to venom, so they can consume venomous snakes like rattlesnakes without getting sick.
According to a study published in the Journal of Mammalogy, California ground squirrels were observed attacking and eating juvenile rattlesnakes. The squirrels would target the snakes when they were young and vulnerable.
This behavior suggests ground squirrels see snakes as both a food source and a threat to their survival that needs to be eliminated.
Tree Squirrels
Tree squirrels like eastern gray squirrels, fox squirrels, and red squirrels are not as likely to eat snakes compared to ground squirrels. Tree squirrels spend most of their time in trees, so they don’t encounter snakes as often.
They primarily eat nuts, seeds, fruit, fungi, and occasionally birds eggs and insects.
However, there are some reports of tree squirrels attacking and killing snakes, particularly when defending their nests. A mother tree squirrel may attack a snake climbing a tree towards its nest in order to protect its babies.
But overall, tree squirrels do not seek out snakes as a food source like ground squirrels do.
Flying Squirrels
Flying squirrels such as the northern and southern flying squirrel are unlikely to eat snakes. Their diet consists mainly of nuts, seeds, fruit, fungi, lichens, buds, insects, and bird eggs. They have small mouths and teeth that are not well suited for killing or consuming large prey like snakes.
Flying squirrels may coincidentally encounter a snake in a tree cavity while seeking shelter, but they do not intentionally hunt snakes. In fact, flying squirrels are much more likely to be preyed upon by snakes who can access their nests in tree holes.
Why Would Squirrels Eat Snakes?
For Protein
Squirrels are omnivores, meaning they eat both plant and animal matter. While nuts, seeds, fruits, and fungi make up the bulk of their diet, squirrels will also occasionally eat insects, eggs, or even small vertebrates like snakes to supplement their protein intake (1).
Snakes can provide squirrels with a good source of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals to round out their primarily plant-based diet.
Specifically, the protein and amino acid content of snakes could be beneficial for pregnant or lactating female squirrels who have increased nutritional needs. The proteins in snake meat can also help squirrel pups grow and build muscle mass.
Even adult squirrels may hunt snakes or scavenge snake carcasses they stumble upon as a way to boost protein in spring or summer when nut and seed resources are scarce.
Research shows that some squirrel species, like Cape ground squirrels (Xerus inauris), actually specialize in eating reptiles like snakes. Up to 20% of their diet can be made up of reptile prey (2). So snake meat seems to be a totally normal, nutritional part of the diet for certain squirrel species.
When Other Food is Scarce
Another key reason squirrels may eat snakes is when their typical food sources are hard to come by. For example, in the winter when nuts and seeds are buried by snow, squirrels can struggle to find enough food to survive.
Snakes that haven’t brumated for the winter may become easy targets for hungry squirrels trying to scrape by.
Similarly, a late spring frost or summer drought can decimate mast crops of nuts and seeds that squirrels rely on. With limited acorns and walnuts available, squirrels may turn to raiding bird nests, berries, mushrooms, and even snakes or other small vertebrates out of desperation for nutrients (3).
Squirrels have also been observed eating roadkill snakes, likely taking advantage of an easy meal when pickings are slim in their native environment. So turns out squirrels aren’t too picky when it comes to protein sources – they’ll eat snakes when food is scarce!
The bottom line is that snakes can provide a nutritious source of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals for squirrels. While plant material makes up the majority of most squirrels’ diets, incorporating some meat from snakes or other small animals likely gives squirrels an evolutionary advantage.
The extra nutrients can bolster reproduction, growth, and survival, especially when resources are limited.
What Snake Species are Eaten by Squirrels?
Garter Snakes
Garter snakes are one of the most common snakes that squirrels will eat. These snakes are small, usually less than 2 feet long, and have thin bodies that are easy for squirrels to kill and consume. Squirrels have been observed attacking and eating garter snakes on numerous occasions.
They seem to particularly target young garter snakes right after they are born, as they are small and vulnerable.
Garter snakes often live in areas near squirrel habitats like woodlands, forests, and backyards. This makes them easy targets for hungry squirrels looking for a meaty snake snack. Squirrels will aggressively chase down garter snakes, bite them behind the head, and then consume them whole.
Their powerful jaws allow them to crush the snake’s bones and swallow the snake with ease.
Some research indicates that squirrels may be opportunistic predators of garter snakes rather than actively hunting them. But when the two species cross paths, squirrels rarely pass up the chance for an easy protein-rich meal from a garter snake, especially in spring and summer when young snake hatchlings abound.
Rattlesnakes
Rattlesnakes are venomous pit vipers that can pose a serious threat to squirrels with their potentially lethal bites. However, some squirrels will take the risk and eat rattlesnakes when given the opportunity.
This is especially true of large male squirrels who are better equipped to subdue a venomous rattlesnake.
Squirrels will target young rattlesnakes and rattlesnakes that are already injured or dead. They seem to instinctively know to avoid the dangerous head of the rattlesnake and will start by eating the body.
Squirrels have been observed dismantling and consuming every part of a dead rattlesnake except for the head and rattle.
In rare cases, squirrels have been seen killing and eating small rattlesnakes alive. They are cautious to avoid being bitten and will harass the snake from a safe distance until an opportunity presents itself.
Some squirrels even seem to have resistance to rattlesnake venom due to evolution in areas where the two species overlap.
Other Small Snakes
In addition to garter snakes and rattlesnakes, squirrels are opportunistic predators and will eat other small snake species when given the chance. Some other snakes known to be eaten by squirrels include:
- Ringneck snakes – small, harmless snakes less than 2 feet long.
- Racer snakes – quick moving colubrid species that can exceed 5 feet in length.
- Rat snakes – excellent climbers and swimmers that raid squirrel nests for eggs.
- Hognose snakes – thick-bodied snakes with upturned snouts found in the Americas.
- Milk snakes – nonvenomous constrictors that often inhabit barns and woodpiles.
Squirrels will typically target small, juvenile versions of these species over large adults. They seem to have an innate ability to assess if a snake is safe to kill and eat. Larger or venomous snakes are avoided unless already dead or dying.
Any small snake unlucky enough to cross a hungry squirrel’s path risks becoming its next victim.
How Do Snakes Interact with Squirrels?
Snakes Eat Squirrels Too
Just as squirrels may eat snake eggs given the chance, snakes also prey on squirrels when the opportunity arises. Though not all snakes actively hunt squirrels, some species like rat snakes, kingsnakes, and racers do view squirrels as potential prey.
These snakes are efficient climbers and can raid squirrel dreys and nests hoping to grab an unsuspecting squirrel. Their lightning-quick reflexes allow them to snatch a squirrel before it has time to flee or fight back.
They kill their prey through constriction, preventing the squirrel from breathing until it dies.
According to wildlife experts, around 5-10% of a rat or kingsnake’s diet may consist of tree squirrels. So while snakes eating squirrels is not an everyday occurrence, it does happen fairly regularly in nature. Squirrels need to be vigilant to avoid becoming dinner!
Squirrels Use Snakeskin in Nests
An interesting behavior seen in some squirrels is taking shed snakeskin and weaving it into their dreys or nests. Researchers believe incorporating the pungent snakeskin deters nest predators like martens and raccoons who dislike the strong musky odor.
Squirrels may also chew on shed snakeskin to sharpen their teeth and get beneficial minerals like calcium. By repurposing something their predator left behind, squirrels reveal their clever survival instincts!
Here’s a quick comparison of how snakes and squirrels interact:
Snakes | Squirrels |
Catch and eat squirrels when given the chance | Eat snake eggs if they find them |
Shed skin which squirrels use in nests | Repurpose shed snakeskin to deter predators and enrich diets |
So in essence, both species interact by preying on one another or benefitting from non-living parts like snake eggs or skin. It highlights nature’s intricate food chain dynamics!
To learn more, check out these authoritative resources on snake and squirrel interactions in the wild.
Conclusion
While most squirrels stick to nuts, seeds, and fungi, some species do occasionally snack on snakes. Ground squirrels in particular will eat small snakes like garter snakes when other food is scarce or they need extra protein. Tree and flying squirrels also nibble on serpents on rare occasions.
However, the relationship goes both ways, as many snakes prey on squirrels as well. Squirrels mainly interact with snakes when adding shed snakeskin to their nests or mobbing snakes to defend their territories. Though fascinating, squirrels eating snakes is quite rare.
With a diverse diet, squirrels tend to focus on plant material and only sample snakes as a supplemental protein source.
In the end, the squirrel and snake relationship highlights the complex food web in nature. While competing for resources and sometimes preying on one another, these small mammals and reptiles mostly inhabit the same ecosystems in balance.
Next time you spot a squirrel, it’s highly unlikely it just feasted on snake! But now you know it’s within the realm of possibility.