Do Owls Eat Snakes?

There are more than 225 different species of owls worldwide. They range in size from the tiny and aptly named little owl, all the way up to the largest owl in the world, the Blakiston fish owl. Due to the sheer number of species across their range, owl diets vary widely. But do owls eat snakes? If so, which ones do it and how do they catch them? In this article, we will try to answer all these questions.

Yes, owls do eat snakes, and really like them. There are 4 main species of owls known to eat snakes; these include the great horned owl, eastern screech owl, barred owl and burrowing owl. Owls are opportunistic hunters and do not actively seek out snakes, but will happily hunt and eat them when given the opportunity.

Read on to learn how owls catch snakes and what types of snakes they eat.

Burrowing owl eating a glossy green snake

What Types of Snakes Do Owls Eat?

The type of snake an owl eats depends on which snakes are small enough to subdue and which snakes can be found in their habitat.

The great horned owl is a large owl found throughout North America and most of South America. Due to their wide range, they have one of the most diverse habitats and diets. They can be found in deserts, forests, grasslands, and suburbs.

The great horned owl mainly preys on small to medium prey such as rabbits and hares. Snakes are not a major part of their diet.

Eastern screech owls primarily eat snakes such as the common garter, rat snake, and eastern hognose. These snakes are small enough that relatively small owls can hunt successfully and can be found in their natural habitats in woodlands, forests and suburban areas.

Barred owls are medium-sized owls that eat snakes, including rat snakes, common garter snakes, and ribbon snakes.

Burrowing owls are small ground-nesting owls that prey primarily on smaller snakes that they can easily subdue. They have been known to hunt and prey on snakes like smooth green snakes.

Common snakes eaten by certain owl species:

• plain garter
• rat snake
• ribbon snake
• Oriental pig nose
• smooth green snake

Horned owl pouncing on prey

How does an owl catch a snake?

Owls have binocular vision, with both eyes facing – just like us humans. This is different from other birds, whose eyes are mostly on the sides of the head. Because of this, owls have excellent depth perception, which is needed to judge the distance needed to attack prey, which in this case is especially important when dealing with deadly snakes.

Their keen eyesight, combined with their ability to silently strike unsuspecting prey, means they can be effective snake hunters. Once they swoop down to attack, the owls use their powerful talons to snatch the snake from the ground and fly to a branch to eat it.

When the snakes are off the ground, they are very helpless and cannot get close to the owls to attack and counterattack because there is no ground below to support the snake’s body. Snakes have strong abdominal muscles, but using them to move or attack requires the underlying surface. Because of this, once the owl catches them, the snake becomes an owl for the next dinner, with no chance of escape.

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