The eastern indigo snake regurgitated two victims: a rat snake and a eastern diamondback rattlesnake, to avoid choking and escape in panic upon seeing humans nearby.
When wildlife officials in Georgia encountered the seemingly motionless pair of snakes that had been expelled by a larger snake, they were surprised by their findings, according to Live Science on September 12. The situation became even more bizarre when one of the two snakes suddenly revived and slithered away.
Eastern indigo snake (right) regurgitating a rat snake (left) and a smaller eastern diamondback rattlesnake (middle). (Photo: DNR)
Technicians from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) witnessed this phenomenon in November 2023 while surveying the eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) in southern Georgia. They discovered a 1.2-meter-long indigo snake along with two other snakes: a rat snake and an eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus). Both were clearly consumed by the indigo snake before being regurgitated, according to a DNR representative.
The rat snake did not survive after being preyed upon, but the rattlesnake showed signs of life about an hour later and appeared unaffected by the incident. It lay basking in the sun instead of seeking refuge in the bushes. Wildlife experts quickly noticed that the rattlesnake’s belly had a significant bulge, indicating it had just swallowed a rat.
“This unusual event not only reveals the impressive hunting capabilities of the indigo snake but also the surprisingly resilient nature of the rattlesnake,” shared DNR.
Snake-eating snakes is not a new behavior, and the size of the meal is hardly a deterrent. For instance, in June 2022, a resident of Georgia recorded an eastern king snake (Lampropeltis getula) slowly consuming a much larger timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus). However, consuming large prey also carries risks, such as choking. In February 2022, a ground snake (Tantilla oolitica) in Florida died with a centipede lodged in its mouth.
In the latest case, the indigo snake may have managed to avoid a similar fate by regurgitating its two victims. However, it is also possible that it self-regurgitated its prey to escape from nearby predators or due to stress from the wildlife experts present.
