Owls

Owls are opportunists. Although all owls have their favorite prey, they will still hunt animals they don't like very much when food is limited. Some owls may seek out snakes because they like the smell of snakes. Snakes are a rich source of protein that some owls prefer over other food options.

Owls hunt by catching them and killing them quickly. This is true of almost all of their prey. They must kill the snake quickly to prevent it from fighting back, and they do this with the help of their strong beaks and razor-sharp talons. If they don't kill the snake quickly, it may squeeze or bite them. Instead, depending on its size, the snake may even try to eat them.

Great horned owls, striped owls, and Eastern and Western owls will often eat snakes. These owls are quite large, so doing so will be easier. In particular, large-horned owls can become obsessed with catching snakes, even too large snakes will not cause them to back down.

Although larger owls can kill snakes up to a staggering 7 feet in length, they generally prefer smaller snakes. Especially if the owl has a nest full of young owls, small snakes are perfect for feeding the baby owls. Baby snakes are soft, tasty, and nutritious, exactly what young owls need to grow and stay strong.