Would a deer eat a snake?
 

Saw the strangest thing today. A small spotted fawn crossed the two track and met up with another. How cute. Oh, and there was Mom, my sight was suddenly was drawn to her because she was thrashing around with something kinda on her head.

It was a snake and she was biting it, shaking her head around and moving backwards. She dropped it once and then picked it back up and thrashed around some more before running off with it apparently still in her mouth.

I went to the area and found some small blood droplets and an 8-inch tail from some sort of snake. I don't know what kind, I ain't really great with snakes. Your guess is as good as mine.

What the heck is where I'm at now. Do you think she'd eat it or was just defending her fawns?

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

lol heck no she wasnt trying to eat it. are you crazy or something!

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

Now I'm at that what the heck stage, too. I doubt a snake would pose much of a threat to a deer, yet I doubt a ruminant would have any use for eating a snake, either.

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

Interesting question....

I read a study recently from a Wildlife Management Area here in Texas where bobwhite quail were being decapitated while in their nests on the ground in the spring time.This was happening a lot, and the wildlife biologists were perplexed about the problem. They could not figure out what was eating the quail heads... racoons, foxes, aliens?

Sooo, they set out infrared cameras around the quail nests. Anyone want to guess what was doing it?

Whitetail does that had recently dropped their fawns. Apparently, the quail heads were extremely protein rich and the does were lacking the protein from the rest of their diet.

I'll search for a link to the article for the non-believers, and remember, this was written by a wildlife biologist. Hopefully someone else saw this and can verify the article, I can't seem to find it.

Deer may sometimes eat some strange things.

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

Don't know if a deer will eat a snake, but a snake will eat a
small Kangaroo! I'm sure it will eat a large deer fawn.

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

I don't know about deer eating snakes, but I've come to believe that they will eat ants. We've got a lot of ant hills around our place, and particularly in the fall and winter, some of them keep getting torn up. Nothing around here is supposed to eat ants, and the only tracks around the hills are deer tracks. 2 + 2 = 4, right?

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

well , if deer are eating snakes i quess i will have to watch it from now on when i whiz in the woods

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

Actually, it is possible. I watched a show that had video of deer eating small fingerling fish that were washing up on a shoreline. I can't remember what kind of fish, but I guess it was a yearly thing at this place.

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

........Amen to that.!!!:eek:

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

born2hunt should be born2punt, cause you're out of downs. Nowhere did I ask if the doe was TRYING to eat the snake. I asked if the doe WOULD eat a snake. Because the only part she left was the small severed tail piece. So on one hand you're a genius, but beings you don't read and/or comprehend very well, it's only YOUR hand and only YOU think so.

Use your other hand.............................................. ....to get the foot out of your mouth.

And this kind of treatment from someone who asks, "how is deer cocaine used"? ROTFLMAO!

gooblerheaven, "stupidest question ever"? Hmmm, more inquiring (i.e. intelligent) minds such as TexasHunter1 & Buck Magnet seem to have some revelant info that might cause you to ask THE STUPIDEST QUESTION EVER. "Why don't I open my mind and try to learn.

Oh, by the way newbies........................................... ..........welcome to the board.

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

I guess Ill steer clear of the "who is the dumbest" part of the question and address the deer instead. I can say for fact that deer will eat some weird stuff. I have personally watched captive deer eat a fledging sparrow as well as some immature cottontails, and even eggs. Ill admit that captive deer might also have a boredom factor involved, but it is well documented that deer will sometimes take in alternate sources of protein. Seaweed with all the life thats in it, dead fish and even the tails of their fawns have been noted. The snake is a first for me, though. I can say if that doe was simply defending her young, shed use her hooves to stomp the snake, Ive seen that enough times...

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

She was protecting her young from getting bit most likely. Anything is possible.

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

I wouldn't be surprised that a doe would eat a snake. All kinds of strange things in mother nature. Probably not a common part of their diet, but it could be a one of those strange things in nature. That must be one of those kangaroo rats.

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

IMO if she was protecting her young, all the doe had to do was walk/run away from the danger. Thats what they do normally, right??? Maybe you were very lucky and got to see one of the freak of nature things?

Still scratching my head...???

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

Dont believe she was trying to eat the snake, however a deer will eat a fish up to 7 inches long, sometimes there body craves something and they find dead fish along the creek and gobble one or two up.

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

LMAO! I could reply with a comment that would send this thread WAY south of acceptable...

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

i rememer hearin about the quals getting decapitated on tv. it shocked the crap out of me. the deer were actually eating the heads. o yeah to the 2 that posted first. i wouldnt try to put people down like that or anyother stuff. cause i can gurantee u all the older members on the bored could get u kicked off.

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

Maybe we can keep this topic on a civalized note rather than all the Shut Ups and Stupid This and That. Geeez - Grow up!

Good Topic - I've always read that when all other food sources are scarce or gone Deer will eat almost anything, including the flesh (carrion) of other animals. Seems in this case Mom was protecting her young and thought later Mr snake might taste pretty good??

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

My words were heck no are you crazy or something. I wasnt saying this to offend anyone I was simply meaning this. She had to of been defending her fawns.I wasnt trying to offend anyone. And im sorry for anyone that tookit the wrong way.I would most definitely say she was defending her fawns.
Sorry again! maybe she was trying to eat the snake.Im just saying i think that i think she was jus defending.that is something we will never know what she was doing.

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

I saw another article about deer eating the young of several different types of ground nesting birds.......you never know.

RE: Would a deer eat a snake?
 

born2hunt,
That was not the post I was reffering to. Its a dead issue - lets get back on topic:)