Top 11+ Animals that Hunt Rattlesnakes
While human beings prefer to avoid rattlesnakes at all costs, there are some animals that hunt rattlesnakes as part of their daily meals or lives. But what might some of these animals be? And how are they capable of taking down such a highly venomous predator without harming themselves?
In this article, we will list eleven animals that are capable of hunting rattlesnakes and eating them, including ones you may not be aware of. We will discuss the ways in which they hunt rattlesnakes, their preferred diet, and how rattlesnakes might best defend themselves from such attacks. Let's get started!
Animals that Hunt Rattlesnakes- Some May Surprise You!
Ready to learn all about the different animals that hunt rattlesnakes? Here are some of the top predators of rattlesnakes around the world!
1. Kingsnakes
While you may already be aware of this, kingsnakes are one of the most notorious animals that hunt rattlesnakes. This is where kingsnakes earn their name- they frequently eat other snakes and have therefore been named king! But why are kingsnakes so good at hunting rattlesnakes? Let's take a closer look.
Kingsnakes are resistant to all pit viper venom, including rattlesnake venom. This gives them a distinct advantage over rattlesnakes in battle. Rattlesnakes only use their venom to hunt or kill other animals. Kingsnakes have powerful bodies capable of constricting and incapacitating their prey. This includes a variety of different snake species, in addition to rattlesnakes!
2. Eagles
One of the primary predators of just about any type of snake is an eagle. Eagles are known for eating a variety of animals, including snakes, fish, and small mammals. Anything that it can carry away to its nest is free game to an eagle, and they don't bat an eye when it comes time to consume a highly venomous rattlesnake!
Even though eagles are not resistant to snake venom in any way, just about every single species of eagle eats venomous and non-venomous snakes. Using their powerful talons and beaks, they rip apart snakes. Rattlesnakes are frequently found in the same territories as eagles.
3. Owls
Despite owls being a primarily nocturnal species, they frequently take down snakes. However, only some species of owls feel comfortable attacking and consuming a snake as large as a rattlesnake- and even then, they still prefer to eat adolescent rattlesnakes!
Owls are discouraged by a rattlesnake's fearsome rattle and defensive positioning; no breed or species of owl enjoys eating snakes as a first choice. However, owls are completely opportunistic hunters, which is why a rattlesnake may fall victim to a passing owl if it is in the wrong place at the wrong time.
4. Hawks
Much like eagles, hawks frequently find and consume rattlesnakes. However, they are also not immune to snake venom, which is why hawks often eat sections of a snake rather than a snake in its entirety. This is particularly true with rattlesnakes, especially since many different hawk species and breeds eat rattlesnakes frequently.
Red-tailed hawks in particular love eating rattlesnakes. However, they hunt for them in a different way compared to how they hunt any other type of prey. Hawks are aware of just how venomous a rattlesnake is, and they also know that rattlesnakes often sense birds from above. So they choose to reveal themselves to rattlesnakes before attempting to hunt them. This means that they rarely get bitten.
5. Turkeys
Did you know that turkeys are just another animal that hunts rattlesnakes? These large and impressive-looking birds may not look like snake killers at first, but their talons and beaks say otherwise. However, turkeys rarely hunt rattlesnakes as part of their routine diet. They fight rattlesnakes if they feel as though their flock or young are threatened.
We all know that turkeys aren't the most intelligent birds out there, but they know when there is a threat in their midst. Turkeys will claw, peck, and otherwise harm rattlesnakes if a rattlesnake is hunting young turkeys in a flock. Turkeys consume the rattlesnake after it has been killed, avoiding the head and the majority of the rattlesnake's venom.
6. Roadrunners
While roadrunners have a natural enemy in coyotes, they are also one of the few animals that hunts rattlesnakes regularly. Found in the deserts of New Mexico and California, roadrunners hunt and kill rattlesnakes without much fear or preamble- it seems like something they were built to do!
Using immense speed and agility, roadrunners peck rattlesnakes through the backs of their heads, often killing them immediately. Given the limited resources and food often found in these desert climates, it makes sense that roadrunners don't hesitate to kill and consume any rattlesnake they find.
7. Coyotes
Another animal that hunts rattlesnakes is the coyote. Both rattlesnakes and coyotes occupy similar habitats to one another, and coyotes kill venomous snakes regularly. Not only are they extremely opportunistic eaters, but they also choose to kill rattlesnakes if they feel as though the snakes are threatening their young.
However, coyotes also consume rattlesnakes and other snakes as part of their regular diet. Many coyote species live in deserts or areas with limited natural food resources, so consuming snakes using their powerful jaws simply comes naturally to them.
Honorable Mention–The Mongoose
There's actually one more formidable enemy to the rattlesnake that definitely bears mentioning, so it receives our honorable mention–the ferocious mongoose! The mongoose is a very fast and agile creature, capable of reaching speeds of up to 20 mph. It also has quick reflexes, strong claws, and a powerful bite that helps it conquer many types of prey, including venomous snakes like the rattlesnake.
The mongoose is a venom-resistant animal, and preys on venomous snakes, including rattlesnakes. While mongooses are not completely immune, they have thick, protective fur and strong skin. That, paired with their deadly claws and teeth, make them a serious threat to rattlesnakes.
