What is the Importance of Snakes in the Ecosystem?

Carnivores

• All snakes are predators. Snakes are carnivores and hunt a large variety of prey species. This prey includes other snakes, a variety of small mammals, birds, fish and reptiles such as lizards. Snakes also feed on the eggs of select bird species and eat insects and snails. Snakes keep the populations of their various prey species under control. Snakes are termed "top-of-the-food-chain" predators. They are attracted to ecosystems where herbivorous species are well established and where the plant life is abundant and healthy. The removal of snakes from such areas affects the entire ecosystem in a negative way.

Natural Pest Control

• Rodents and insects make up a large proportion of the diet of many snake species. The feeding habits of snakes act as a natural form of pest control. The presence of snakes negates the need for pesticides and related poisons, which have far-reaching negative effects on an ecosystem. Biologists are releasing snakes in and around villages in Vietnam as a means of protecting grain from the growing rodent populations. A reduction in the rodent population in these villages also reduces the spread of diseases the rodents transmit.

Snakes as Prey

• A number of animals hunt and eat snakes. These predators depend on snakes to make up all or part of their natural diet. The removal of snakes from ecosystems that include predators of snakes have a negative impact. The black-crested snake eagle, together with a number of other raptors or birds of prey feed on snakes, as do mongoose and weasels.

Death in the Ecosystem

• The many species of snakes are found in different types of ecosystems, but their presence in each is crucial to the overall health of that system. Even the death of a snake benefits the ecosystem. After death, the carcass of a snake is decomposed by bacteria, worms and fungi. Through this process, nutrients leach back into the soil and are used by grass and other plant life. Each living element within an ecosystem remains dependant on every other element and even in death, snakes contribute to the survival of the entire complex system.