When Foxes Unleash Their Secret Martial Arts Skills on Snake Prey

Snakes are impressive predators, often utilizing speed and even venom against their opponents. But what happens when these slithery hunters become the hunted? The incredible dexterity of a fox battling against a snake is nothing short of a martial arts masterclass as it dodges lethal strikes with the precision of a ninja!

How Foxes Hunt

Foxes have a reputation for cleverness and stealth, as seen in their roles as storybook tricksters over many centuries. These ambush hunters eat just about anything they can find. This includes scavenging dead animals and eggs, eating fruits, berries, and seeds, and hunting insects, small mammals, birds, and reptiles. However, their primary food source is typically mammals like mice, voles, rabbits, and hares.

To find prey, foxes patrol their territory while relying on their keen senses of smell and hearing. They continually trot back and forth across an area like diligent soldiers on patrol, using their exceptional senses to pinpoint a potential meal. Minute sounds or scents too faint for humans to hear or smell are easily detected by a fox. Once it detects a particular scent or sound, the fox slows down and often tilts its head to listen for movement. After locating its prey, the fox silently approaches, trying not to alert the animal to its presence. When close enough, the fox leaps into the air and pounces down on the creature from above, delivering a surprise attack on its unsuspecting prey.

Foxes typically hunt at night, although some also hunt during the day. While many hunt alone, others hunt in pairs or family groups. Hunting together allows them to surround their prey and coordinate an attack. Foxes often store their food for later, burying carcasses or keeping leftovers in their dens. That way, they have enough food when hunting is unsuccessful.

How Snakes Defend Themselves

Despite being predators themselves, snakes can quickly become prey to other animals as well. Camouflage is often a primary defense, allowing a snake to blend into its environment and avoid notice. When danger is near, it may slither quietly away to avoid confrontation. However, when these methods fail, snakes may hiss loudly, coiling and raising their bodies to appear larger and more intimidating. Snakes may also vibrate or rattle their tails or pretend to strike to scare the threat away. Some species can inflate their bodies to look bigger, while others release foul-smelling substances. There are even some species that can play dead. But if these methods fail, a snake will often resort to directly attacking and biting the predator.

Fox vs. Snake

As seen in this YouTube video, a fight between a fox and a snake is quite a sight. A venomous snake could potentially kill a fox with just one bite. But foxes are like ninja masters with their agility and speed, making it difficult for a snake to land a strike.

In their natural habitats, foxes are opportunistic predators and often hunt snakes — including venomous ones like copperheads. However, subduing a snake isn’t easy, even for an experienced fox. Typically, a fox’s size, speed, agility, and bite strength give it the advantage. But a larger snake, or one that manages to strike first, can quickly change the outcome.