A group of wildlife officials in Georgia stumbled upon a truly unusual sight: an indigo snake had vomited up two other snakes it had swallowed whole. The scene, observed in November 2023, left the team from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) baffled. They found a 4-foot-long indigo snake alongside a young rat snake and a juvenile eastern diamondback rattlesnake, both clearly expelled by the larger predator.
While the rat snake did not survive its ordeal, the regurgitated rattlesnake, to everyone’s surprise, showed signs of life after about an hour. Even more astonishingly, it seemed completely unfazed by being eaten and then coughed up. Instead of seeking shelter, it was spotted basking in the sun. Adding to the strangeness, the DNR team noticed a large bulge in the rattlesnake’s midsection, indicating it had recently swallowed a mouse.
This remarkable incident highlights the incredible hunting skills of the indigo snake, but it also underscores the surprising resilience of the rattlesnake. Although snakes eating each other is not unheard of, it’s a risky maneuver. Larger prey can pose a choking hazard, and in some cases, snakes have been found dead with food still lodged in their mouths.
The indigo snake may have expelled its victims to avoid a similar fate, or it could have been trying to escape a predator or the presence of the nearby wildlife experts. Whatever the reason, the incident provides a captivating glimpse into the fascinating world of snakes and their sometimes unexpected behaviors.
