Face-off Like No Other: Small Kingsnake Takes On & Eventually Devours Bigger Rattlesnake In Gruesome Video

Ophidiophobia is a common one - no one wants to be attacked by a snake. But what if you see one snake attacking another? A man from Georgia, U.S., came across a snake who was devouring another, larger reptile.

Tom Slagle spotted the bone-chilling sight while collecting his mail. The 80-year-old witnessed a kingsnake eating a venomous timber rattlesnake. If it was me in his place, I would have run for my life. However, the brave Georgia resident even managed to record the gruesome act of nature.

In the video, we can see the bottom half of the rattlesnake protruding from the kingsnake's mouth. The now-viral clip was shared by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with the caption, "Kingsnake vs. Timber Rattlesnake: It's a snake-eat snake world out there."

The clip, which is bound to give anyone the creeps, shows the kingsnake moving its jaws around the rattlesnake's body, and eventually swallowing it whole like nobody's business.

"Found throughout Georgia, Kingsnakes are renowned for their ability to overcome and eat venomous snakes. They will strike and grasp prey near the head, coil around it and constrict before swallowing headfirst," further reads the caption of the post.

Georgia DNR added, "If the snake being eaten is longer than the kingsnake, it will get folded before being swallowed."

"Most of the time, you can easily identify this species by the chainlink fence-like pattern on its back. This dorsal pattern is usually white or yellow in color," the caption concluded.

Wildlife Resources Division - Georgia DNR

The video has more than 2.78 lakh views on the social media platform, along with over 2,500 likes and hundreds of comments.

"And that¡¯s exactly why you don¡¯t kill the good snakes!! Thanks for sharing. That¡¯s amazing," wrote one user. "I wanted to see it finish this meal and see how well it moved afterwards - it seems like such a HUGE meal! said another user. "Don't you love nature? Good snake vs bad snake and outdoor sounds of life go on!" commented a third user.

"I never cease to be amazed at this! We have at least one resident King Snake and are very glad for it! Because we have had copperheads around, also, one which bit me a number of years ago. Hope King Snake got that one," added a fourth user.

According to a report by Newsweek, a DNR spokesperson said that a kingsnake's diet is usually made up of rabbits, rodents, amphibians, turtle eggs, lizards, and other snakes. He added that kingsnakes are known for their ability to overcome and eat venomous snakes - like the timber rattlesnake seen in the video.

The spokesperson also said that kingsnakes are not venomous and they kill their prey with constriction. The reptile wraps itself around its prey and constricts, and eventually swallows it whole and headfirst.

How can they eat venomous snakes and not die? Turns out, they are resistant to venoms that would kill us.

Wildlife Resources Division - Georgia DNR

With quotes from Newsweek.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.