Viral Pictures Present a Squirrel Biting a Snake in Texas. Do not Mess With Squirrels

When you pictured a battle between a snake and a squirrel, you most likely would not wager on the squirrel popping out on prime.

However that is precisely what occurred in a very grotesque case in 2009, caught on digital camera by William Leggett, who was a ranger at West Texas’ Guadalupe Mountains Nationwide Park.

The picture under exhibits a rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus) utilizing each paws to seize what was recognized as a desert whipsnake (Masticophis taeniatus), just under the snake’s head.

(W. Leggett/NPS/Guadalupe Mountains Nationwide Park)

In later pictures of the scene, the squirrel could be seen biting on the half-devoured snake. Yep, the fuzzy rodent ate practically the entire thing.

“They’re opportunists,” Leggett, informed HuffPost again in 2015. “Usually they’re going to eat nuts and berries and different issues which are simply obtainable, however they’re additionally identified to eat bugs, lizards, snakes.”

The Nationwide Park Service (NPS) just lately republished one of many pictures on social media. Based on the caption, the squirrel devoured many of the snake, together with the bones, right down to the final 2 inches (5 centimetres) or so.

(W. Leggett/NPS/Guadalupe Mountains Nationwide Park)

Though it’d look like a uncommon incidence,snakes and squirrels have extra run-ins than you’d count on.

In 2007, analysis was revealed within the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Organic Sciences suggesting that floor squirrels may use discarded rattlesnake skins to keep away from predation. The squirrels chew on the skins after which groom themselves, doubtlessly to masks their very own scent with that of the snake.

There’s additionally a video – which has since been faraway from YouTube – of an African squirrel which took a number of bites out of a really unimpressed snake again in 2016.

(W. Leggett/NPS/Guadalupe Mountains Nationwide Park)

NPS public data Elizabeth Jackson informed San Antonio Categorical-Information again in 2015 that the picture was “from the vault” and was a method to educate their followers about nature.

“I am fascinated with the wildlife now we have out right here,” she stated. “It is fascinating to see what most individuals do not witness.”