As someone who is curious about ecology, I always used to ask others, do hawks eat snakes? Turns out it’s an interesting question to have an answer to. Hawk has a diverse diet and behavior. Their preying techniques are unique and capable of catching a wide range of snake species as well.
Depending on the food supply in their natural habitat, hawks will often eat snakes. More so, hawks can prey on venomous snakes as well. Some of the species of hawks are known to specifically hunt venomous snakes. And there is more to it.
So let’s just dive into the main focus of the article and explore the dynamics of this predator-prey relationship.
What Types of Snakes Do Hawks Eat?
Hawks prey on different kinds of snakes in their lifetime. For example, they like to hunt and eat coral snakes, redbelly snakes, baby eastern indigo snakes, kingsnakes, eastern racers, and others. These are the snacks that hawks hunt for often.
On the other hand, I have seen hawks hunting rattlesnakes occasionally. Meanwhile, they stay careful not to get bitten by the rattlesnakes. This is why hawks attack babies or injured rattlesnakes for easy hunting. Similarly, hawks only target baby pythons as prey.
How Do Hawks Eat Snakes Without Getting Bitten?
Hawks have powerful binocular eyes, which let them spot snakes from mid-flight. They can spot the snake and its movements while flying at high speed. Once they decide on a single snake, they will fly aggressively toward it. Afterward, they will grab the snake with sharp claws.
If the snake is venomous, like a rattlesnake, the hawk will grab the neck area. Most of the time, the intense speed and pressure kill the snake. But if the snake is still alive, the strong and sharp claw will suffocate it to death. As a result, the snakes get no chance to bite the hawk.
Do Hawks Eat Copperhead Snakes?
No, hawks usually don’t eat copperhead snakes, as they are rare in the hawk’s natural habitat. Generally, hawks like to live around wide open fields, but copperhead snakes live in forests. More so, the copperhead snakes are smaller in size. This is why hawks don’t target them, even if they are in the same habitat.
However, when it comes to hawk species, the red-tailed hawk is the one that is known for hunting copperhead snakes.
Do Hawks Eat Cobras?
Most of the time, hawks will avoid hunting cobras. It’s due to the highly toxic venom of cobras. With a single bite of a cobra, a hawk can suffer a significant injury and a quick death due to toxicity. This is why hawks prefer to hunt other snakes that have lower or nontoxic venomous snakes.
In addition, cobras can get up to 6 feet long and weigh heavy. Even if any hawk tried to hunt an adult cobra, they wouldn’t be able to grab it by the claws. Instead, the cobra will most likely place the fatal bite on the hawk. As a result, hawks don’t eat cobras unless it’s an emergency due to a food shortage.
Do Hawks Eat Garter Snakes?
Usually, hawks don’t eat garter snakes or try to hunt them. The reason lies in the size of garter snakes. They are quite smaller in size and have less meat on their body. This is why hawks go for other nutritious snakes which will serve them with more meat.
Additionally, garter snakes can be quick and agile. Hawks usually find it difficult to catch smaller snakes that are not visible during mid-flight. In fact, there’s almost no evidence of hawks eating garter snakes.
Do Hawks Eat King Snakes?
In general, the hawk doesn’t eat king snakes at all. King snakes are smaller in size and not substantial enough for a hawk’s diet. More so, the small size of king snakes makes them easy to hide in the bush. Which is why I haven’t seen many hawks eat snakes.
At the same time, a hawk might eat a king snake if the hawk is too hungry. If the food supply in the natural habitat is low, the hawk might take a chance on the king snake. Moreover, if a king snake is injured or has issues, then a hawk will certainly prey on it.
Do Hawks Eat Poisonous Snakes?
Yes, hawks do eat poisonous snakes in their natural habitat. Special hawk species, such as the red-tailed hawk, are known for hunting and eating out venomous snakes. They have developed certain adaptations against the venom of snakes.
On top of that, when a hawk hunts a venomous snake, it will also eat out the venomous gland. The inner organs of hawks have built up a process to break down the venom of the snake into nutrients. All in all, it’s quite common in the wild to see a hawk eating a poisonous snake.
Do Hawks Eat Pythons?
Yes, hawks do eat pythons in the wilderness. Even though it’s not common for a hawk to prey on a python. As pythons get way bigger in size, it’s a lot more difficult for hawks to hunt them. For this reason, they often choose to hunt baby pythons.
However, there was a famous incident in Florida about a hawk eating up an 18-foot python. This is why it’s better to say that hawks only eat pythons on rare occasions. While hunting a python, a hawk has to be very careful. Pythons can be aggressive toward hawks and can cause injury.
Do Hawks Eat Rattlesnakes?
Hawks occasionally prey on rattlesnakes. But hawks generally go for other snakes as it’s much easier. Burning an adult rattlesnake needs proper experience and technique. To be specific, species like red-tailed hawks are the ones who hunt the most rattlesnakes.
When it comes to venomous snakes such as rattlesnakes, hawks follow certain cautionary steps. Like, they target the neck area of the snake to avoid biting. Right after grabbing the neck, they usually fly away and attack the head of the snake.
Conclusion
And there you have it, folks! In short, the answer to the question, “Do hawks eat snakes?” is yes. Hawks often eat a variety of snakes. Apart from some specific snake species, hawks like to hunt snakes and eat them out.
More so, some snakes serve them as a great source of nutrients. When other food is scarce in the habitat, hawks often look for different kinds of snakes to prey on. During the process, hawks also contribute to controlling the number of snakes in their natural habitat. Nature’s balance never ceases to amaze me.
It was really rewarding for me to do some research, find out more about hawks’ habitats and diets, and share the knowledge with you guys. And if you guys ever end up watching their real-life action against each other, don’t forget to take a moment to appreciate it.
