What Types of Snakes Do Owls Eat?
How does an owl catch a snake?
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.
you may also like
Expert Q&A
ask a question
Do you have a question on this topic that we haven’t answered yet? Submit below and one of our experts will reply as soon as possible.

I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.