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The Effects of Global Warming on Feeding Snakes

The effects of global warming on the plants and animals of the Earth will be wide-ranging and unpredictable. Average temperature rises and changing weather patterns will impact habitats and plant life in all areas of the world. The effects on food supplies for snake species will vary according to the normal diet of the animal and its environment. Snakes held in captivity will be less affected, because humans have greater control over their diet and living conditions.

Snake Diets
- There are over 2,000 species of snakes and all are carnivorous, which means that they only eat other animals, such as insects, lizards, rodents or other snakes. Depending upon the species of snake, their method of eating is to swallow food alive, asphyxiate the prey (prevent it from breathing by crushing it) or poison it by biting the animal and injecting venom through fangs. Snakes usually only have two or three food types that make up their diet.
Temporary Effects of Global Warming on Snakes
- Snakes are predators at the top of the food chain. This means they prey on other animals, and there are very few animals that eat them. Where global warming has affected the animals lower down the food chain, snakes will suffer a reduction in their food supply. For example, if global warming has caused a drought in a particular area, this will reduce the numbers of animals that eat plants, and so snakes have fewer animals available to feed upon.
Long-Term Effects of Global Warming on Snakes
- Another effect of global warming on snakes' food supply is habitat loss. Prolonged changes to the climate in any environment will result in a change in the vegetation and range of animal species that live there. Animals can only live and reproduce in environments that are suited to them. Snakes are sensitive to changes in the animal species that occupy their habitat, because their diet is limited to a small range of other animals. Recent research has shown that some snake species are in decline, and researchers suspect that global warming may be the cause.
Snakes in Captivity
- Pet snakes and snakes in zoos or other conservation organizations should be fed their natural diet as closely as possible. Depending on the species of snake, typical foods for captive animals are earthworms, frogs, slugs, small fish and rodents. It is far less cruel and safer for the snake to eat dead rodents rather than live ones. These foods can be obtained from pet food suppliers. As long as global warming does not affect human production of pet foods, there should be no problem with feeding snakes in captivity.

Animals & Science