Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just thought I'd share what happened this afternoon.

About a week ago one of my cats had killed a hopper sized mouse and left it on our front porch. When I went out to water the plants today I noticed that it was starting to attract flies so I decided to dispose of it on my next trip out. When I went out 10 minutes later the mouse was gone and in its place was a small gopher snake less than a foot in length that had just finished swallowing it.

I was amazed, I never thought snakes would consider scavenging let alone eat a carcass that was almost a week old.

-Alice

Did you keep it? You could stick it under your sink and use it for a garbage disposal.

Scavenging is severely under-reported in snakes and new discoveries are being made all the time. I don't think any Pituophis have been reported to scavenge before so this is a significant find!

Van

Scavenging is severely under-reported in snakes and new discoveries are being made all the time. I don't think any Pituophis have been reported to scavenge before so this is a significant find!

Van

Pretty neat. Not uncommon I would think. Cottonmouths here will take DOR frogs, other snakes, and pretty much anything else that has been hit by a car. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

i don't recall any of my pits eating something 'disgusting' like that before but my cribos have more than once. several other species will as well inc. coachwhips and racers. a friend of mine had an african mole snake that loved really ripe stuff.....i believe it's more common than previously thought......