Rat snakes are widespread, non-venomous constrictors primarily belonging to the genus Pantherophis in North America. These medium-to-large reptiles can reach impressive lengths, sometimes exceeding seven feet, and inhabit diverse areas from woodlands to suburban settings. They benefit ecosystems by regulating populations of small animals. This article clarifies their feeding habits and addresses whether this common North American reptile includes other snakes in its diet.
The Rat Snake Diet: Primary Prey
The common name of these snakes reflects their primary diet, which centers heavily on warm-blooded prey, particularly rodents. They are effective hunters of mice, rats, squirrels, and voles, which they subdue before consuming. This reliance on small mammals establishes them as natural pest controllers in agricultural and residential settings.
Their diet is not exclusive to mammals, as they are also accomplished arboreal hunters, frequently climbing trees for food. They consume birds and raid nests for eggs and hatchlings, a behavior that earned some species the name “chicken snake.” Younger, smaller rat snakes often start their lives hunting cold-blooded prey, such as frogs and lizards, before transitioning to larger, warm-blooded animals as they increase in size.
Ophiophagy: Consuming Other Snakes
Rat snakes are confirmed to consume other snakes, though this behavior is considered opportunistic rather than a primary dietary focus. The act of eating other snakes is known as ophiophagy, and for rat snakes, it is a facultative behavior, meaning they will engage in it when the chance arises. They are not specialized snake-eaters like kingsnakes, but they will not pass up an easy meal.
The prey snakes they target are typically smaller, less robust species or juveniles of various kinds that they can overpower easily. This may include smaller members of their own species, which is a common occurrence among many snake groups. This predatory flexibility allows them to take advantage of available resources in their environment, ensuring survival even when their preferred rodent prey is scarce.
This opportunistic predation is a testament to the rat snake’s adaptable nature as a generalist predator.
Hunting and Constriction Methods
Rat snakes employ a combination of hunting strategies, moving both on the ground and high into trees, aided by the slightly ridged, or keeled, scales on their bellies. They will actively track down prey or wait in ambush near rodent trails and bird nests. Once they strike, they secure the prey with their teeth and immediately begin the process of constriction.
Constriction is a method of dispatching prey that involves rapidly coiling their muscular bodies around the target. Contrary to common understanding, this method does not kill by crushing the bones or suffocating the victim by preventing lung expansion. Instead, the pressure exerted by the snake’s coils is sufficient to quickly overwhelm the prey’s circulatory system.
The rapid arrest of blood flow to the brain, a condition called ischemia, causes the prey to lose consciousness and die within seconds. This efficient kill method allows the snake to safely consume the meal whole, head-first, without the risk of injury from a struggling animal. After a successful kill, the snake may remain in the area to continue hunting before beginning the process of digestion.