Do Turtles Eat Snakes?
Snakes and turtles share similar habitats, so it’s not surprising that turtles sometimes eat snakes. This can include both venomous and non-venomous snakes, depending on a variety of factors.
How Turtles Act with Snakes
Turtles may see some snakes as prey, but this is rare. More often, turtles pay little attention to snakes and move away when one is spotted. This behavior is true for all sizes of turtles and snakes, as the vast majority of turtles will not try to eat a snake.
Turtles Eating Snakes
There are some cases in which turtles have been known to eat snakes, and it is much more common for aquatic species than land-dwelling turtles. The most common type of snake eaten by turtles is the earthworm snake, a non-venomous species found in the southeastern United States.
There have also been cases of turtles eating venomous snakes, although this is rare and usually only happens when the turtle is very hungry. Even then, the amount of venom ingested is usually not enough to do any real harm.
Is Feeding Turtles Snakes Safe?
Feeding turtles snakes is generally safe and is often done as part of larger diets. When feeding snakes to turtles, it’s important to make sure that the snakes are healthy, as any illness could be passed on to the turtle.
You’ll want to be extra careful when feeding venomous snakes, as they may still contain some venom. For this reason, it’s always best to consult a veterinarian before feeding your turtle any kind of snake.
Conclusion
Turtles rarely eat snakes, and when they do, it’s usually only a non-venomous species. That being said, some turtles may try to eat venomous snakes in rare cases, so it’s best to exercise caution when feeding them any type of snake. It’s also important to make sure that the snake is healthy, as any illnesses could be passed on to the turtle.
