Little Snake Eats a Bat

A few days ago I found a small gopher snake in my shop lounging alongside some lumber.

It was a cute little thing, maybe 10-11 inches long and my shop seemed an unsafe place for it so I gently escorted it outside into the weeds where it could go find happier hunting grounds.

So... The next evening I'm in the shop, and back in one of the dirty unswept corners there's a little pile of something brown. On closer examination, I realize it's that same little snake (or one just like it) and it's coiled around a bat!

The bat appeared to be dead already. I don't know if the snake killed it or what. I have to wonder how a snake even catches a live bat. Sadly I missed that part of the adventure. Anyway, I hauled ass into the house and grabbed the camera. Here's what I saw over the next 30 minutes or so...

This is what I first saw... The snake wrapped around the bat. The bat looks like a little pig to me.

After a few minutes it latched it's mouth onto the bat. I just laughed and thought, "yeah, right! That bat is bigger than you, good luck!"

Another view. All wrapped around the meal.

It looks like a pretty ambitious project to me!

I suppose it helps if you've got a big mouth and can unhinge your jaw.

Then you wrap yourself around your food and jam it in.

The sun wnet down and I turned on the shop lights so the color balance has changed. It's starting to look like he really may get that bat in...

Wow!

It's been about 20 minutes since the first photo was taken. I'm so amazed at this guys progress!

I think I can, I think I can...

Wow! (Did I mention that already?)

Only just a little bat hand left sticking out.

It's all in. I can't help but be amazed.

A bat makes a rather wide spot in a small snake.

All done. Time to slither off and take a well deserved nap!

AMAZING!

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