Yes, owls are capable of keeping snakes as pets. Although it may sound unlikely, as these two usually have a predator-prey relationship, some owls bring snakes into their nests as pets. If you’re considering taking care of an owl and a snake in your home, always check with your local wildlife officials before making any decisions.
Why Owls Keep Snakes as Pets
Some common reasons why owls might keep snakes as pets include: owls are considered to be wise and gentle creatures, some snakes have interesting markings or patterns, and snakes can help owls in the removal of pests from their nests.
Keeping Owls and Snakes Together
While owls can keep snakes as pets, it’s also unknown whether or not this practice is safe. If you’re considering this option, be sure to do your research first, as many dangerous snakes out there may not be compatible with an owl’s diet or environment.
In addition, be sure to always check with your local wildlife officials before making any decisions.
When it comes to keeping snakes as pets, some people are also hesitant because of the potential danger owls may pose. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. Owls typically eat small prey, so they’re not likely to attack a snake.
In addition, owls can be trained to avoid snakes – this may take some time and effort on your part, but it’s worth it in the end. Only keep one or two owls in the house anytime because of their space requirements. If you want to keep an owl as a pet, ensure it’s fed live mice or birds daily.
Snakes as a Part of Owls’ Diets
Owls are natural predators and eat a variety of animals, including snakes. Snakes fall under the owl’s diet because they’re easy to catch and have small fleshy parts that taste bad.
Common Garter Snake
Garter snakes are common prey for owls and other predators as they move around a lot. Although harmless to humans, garter snakes can be dangerous to small pets such as cats and rodents. Garter snakes can also harm one’s garden if not kept in check.
Apart from owls, other predators that eat garter snakes include hawks, copperheads, and moccasins, among others. While it is true that these reptiles eat garter snakes, the population of each predator is still constantly changing, so the percentage may differ from place to place depending on the availability of food sources.
Rat Snake
Rat snakes are fascinating and relatively common snakes that owls will consume. They are swift and agile, making them perfect prey for the owl. Additionally, rat snakes make good pets as they can live up to 30 years in captivity, which is much longer than their lifespan in the wild, around 6 to 8 years.
Ribbon Snake
While ribbon snakes are not common in the wild, they make for a delicious meal for owls. Owls have been known to eat ribbon snakes without harm, which is a good way of getting the snake into their diet.
Also, as ribbon snakes are docile creatures that don’t make much noise, they can be made into good pets for owls. These domesticated snakes make great watch animals or even house pets.
Ribbon snakes aren’t found in large numbers in the wild, so they can act as an excellent food source for owls when hunting prey or scavenging in nature.
Do Owls Eat Poisonous Snakes?
There is no definitive answer as to whether owls eat poisonous snakes, as it depends on the owl’s diet and location. In general, owls are not known to eat poisonous snakes, but there is always the possibility that some of them may do so in a desperate situation.
How Owls Hunt Snakes
Owls will not typically eat adult snakes, so if you’re worried about your pet getting into trouble, do not keep an owl as a pet! Instead, owls prey on snakes by taking advantage of their vulnerabilities and weaknesses. These include being trapped in a hole, eating from an animal that is sick or weak, or being surprised while sleeping.
The Type of Owls That Eat Snakes
Barn owls are most likely to consume a snake in North America, however, other owls that eat snakes have different dietary needs and will not consume a snake because of its toxic venom.
Do Fake Owls Keep Snakes Away?
No scientific evidence supports the claim that fake owls keep snakes away. Some people believe this to be the case, and as such, they buy fake owls to protect their homes from snakes. If you’re buying a fake owl, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper installation and use.
If you’re concerned about keeping snakes out of your home, purchasing a live owl rather than a fake one is better. Fake owls are not effective as snake repellents since they typically do not make a loud noise or have feathers.
3 Reasons Why Fake Owls Don’t Keep Snakes Away
Lack of Surprise Factor
Fake owls often lack sound and movement features, making matters worse for the snakes in question.
Lack of Intelligence
Fake owls do not have the intelligence to understand snakes’ signals. Instead, they are making it useless if the snake decides to attack the fake owl.
Lack of Evidence
There is no evidence that fake owls keep snakes away, but using one of these decorations may have severe consequences.
First and foremost, using a fake owl might frighten your actual snake and cause it to lash out in defense. Secondly, even if the fake owl does look like an owl, it’s still not capable of harming or attacking snakes in any way.
Therefore, beware of any dangerous consequences resulting from relying on something with no real value or protection attached to it.
