Mrs. Snake: "Not Tonight, Dear...I'm Hungry"

After picking up product at the Johnson City WBU last month, we bought a lunch-to-go at Wegman's and headed out for a walk through the Suny-Binghamton Nature Preserve.  The last time we were in the area, we visited Chenango Valley State Park and had a great afternoon of birding there.  The SUNY preserve is on the southern border of the Binghamton campus and has a 6-acre pond, a marsh area with a very nice boardwalk, and plenty of mature woodlands.  The preserve is open to the public. 

While we went looking primarily for birds, our biggest adventure was with the snakes.  I'm not a real snake lover, but a nice boardwalk ran right through the marsh, so you could comfortably watch all kinds of goings-on in the water.  And things WERE going on!  Gluttony and sex, all right there just 6 feet off the boardwalk!

It started with a Northern Water Snake looking for lunch.  As we were watching, it disappeared under the muck and moments later emerged with a catfish.  The snake had t-boned the fish, which was about 6" long.

1:59:49

Over the next few minutes, the snake lifted the fish and moved to slightly shallower water.  She continued to hold the fish just out of the water.

2:02:56

2:06:58

Then to our surprise, while the snake was waiting for the fish to die(?), another smaller water snake approached.  At first we thought there was going to be a struggle for the food. 

2:08:40

The 2nd snake had a lighter, more reddish coloration.  It was also considerably smaller than the first, both in length and diameter.  We wondered whether the second snake would even be able to consume the catfish.

2:09:58

But, nooooo, it - he - wasn't after the food. He was in the mood for love.  He traveled down the length of the first snake's body, then he moved back up along it until his curves matched the curves in the female's body.

2:11:45

Then she began to make HER move - to consume the catfish.  She started to move toward the fish's head.  In the following picture, you can see the wound on the side of the fish (you can click on any image to enlarge it.)  The male snake and her remained entwined.

2:12:16

2:12:16

The female turns, opens her jaws, and starts swallowing the catfish head first.

2:12:27

It was slow going at first, getting over the big head of the catfish.  All the while, they continue to mate, punctuated by slight twitches in the back half of their bodies.

2:15:36

  2:16:16

2:16:52

2:19:55

Once over the catfish's dorsal fin, the swallowing moved quite quickly.  In the last image, only the tail is left and the snake's body is distended from the fish.

2:21:00

2:21:31

2:21:31

Immediately after the catfish was swallowed, the female entered the water, male snake still in tow.  They stayed together for only a minute or so more, then she was gone.

2:22:12

What an interesting encounter it was!  I don't know if it is a common occurrence for a male snake to approach and mate with a female that is mid-meal, so if any herp-loving readers can provide insight, it would be much appreciated.

Water Snake Resources

Distribution

Snakes of NY brochure

More information on NY snakes

 

Comments

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Joan - I couldn't imagine leaving! We felt lucky to have witnessed it. Thanks for visiting the blog.

[joan knapp]

Fantastic documentation! Glad you didn't have any pressing engagements and could stay for the entire event.
Glad I'm not the only one who stands around to capture a really interesting encounter

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Warren - thanks so much for the information. I'm so glad we witnessed it and even more glad we documented and shared it!

[Warren]

During the mating season male snakes get hopped up on testosterone and will try to copulate with any immobile female's body, including a freshly-killed one on a road. Likewise, snakes that are eating are often oblivious to all else. So it probably happens fairly often, but is almost never witnessed. Good job!

[Arj]

okay we know this is a common scenario for humans (females thinking of food, while males have only one thing on their mind) ;-), but surprised that no one has yet answered you how common it is for herps!

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Hello to those visiting from the FieldHerpForum and thanks for your comments on the forum:
http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=31717

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Hi John - I was thinking about sending you the link. You've done a GREAT job of referring us to the perfect nature spots around Binghamton/Vestal/Johnson City! Thanks so much.

[Jpbaumlin]

Wow, very cool, Nancy! Glad your trip out there provided some material for your excellent blog!

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Billy - thanks much. So this behavior/encounter is unusual?

[Bernard Brown]

Wow,

I am a herp-loving reader, and that's one of the coolest things I've ever seen.

Thanks for posting it,
Billy