Snake catches catfish

July 20, 2017 by Mike Powell

It may appear to be the Loch Ness monster, but I am pretty sure that it is “only” a Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon). I stumbled upon it yesterday while exploring Riverbend Park in Great Falls, Virginia just after it had caught a pretty good-sized catfish. It took a while to subdue the fish, but the snake eventually was able to swallow it.

I have seen snakes like this catch small fish before, but I was shocked to see the size of its catch this time. How does a snake subdue and immobilize a fish that big? Northern Water Snakes are not poisonous, though I have been told that their bite can be quite painful and that the snake injects an anti-coagulant into your system, so that you will bleed a lot. The snake swam around with the fish for quite some time, periodically rearing its head and part of its body out of the water. The snake’s mouth seemed to have a literal death grip on the fish.

I watched the action with a mixture of horror and fascination, frozen in place to avoid spooking the snake. The snake seemed to be adjusting the position of the fish, as I had seen herons do, and I wondered how it could possibly swallow the fish. Suddenly there was a lot of movement in the water, the snake’s body started to writhe, and the fish simply disappeared, except for a small piece of the tail still sticking out of the fish’s mouth.

I still don’t know exactly how the snake ingested the fish—one minute it was then and then in a blink of an eye it wasn’t. It seemed like some kind of magical legerdemain (which is probably the wrong term for a limbless creature), though I suspect that the snake has powerful muscles that enabled it to pull in the fish all at once.

There are signs in Riverbend Park warning folks not to swim in the Potomac River, probably because of the current. I think that I have found another reason to stay out of the water.

Posted in Fish, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, catfish, Great Falls VA, Nerodia sipedon, Northern Water Snake, Northern Watersnake, Potomac River, Riverbend Park, Tamron 180mm | 20 Comments

20 Responses

on July 20, 2017 at 10:14 am | Reply Jet Eliot

This is incredible, Mike! Each photo I scrolled through I heard myself whisper, “Oh my God.” An amazing sight. That snake is huge, and you caught its size even while underwater. Then the catfish is huge and no way could the snake swallow it. But he did. And you captured the whole thing. Astounding series.
on July 20, 2017 at 10:20 am | Reply Mike Bizeau

Now that must have been an experience you will never forget. Thanks for sharing.
- on July 20, 2017 at 7:29 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Mike. It was definitely an unforgettable encounter. I an constantly amazed by the things that happen in nature about which we usual know so little.
  - on July 21, 2017 at 9:00 am Mike Bizeau
    
    Hi Mike, yes nature is an endless source of wonder and exploration. You can be in the same place every day and still find something new if you take the time to look.
    
    Have a great weekend an dI hope you have a chance to get outside.
on July 20, 2017 at 4:06 pm | Reply Laura (PA Pict)

That’s amazing, Mike! Wow! What a cool thing to witness. My kids all said, “woah!” in unison when I showed them the photos. You’ve captured a great series of shots.
on July 20, 2017 at 4:23 pm | Reply Pete Hillman

Wow what a catch, or should I say catches! Nice one, Mike!
on July 20, 2017 at 5:05 pm | Reply exploringcolour

Amazing series of photos! Thanks for capturing the action and sharing!
- on July 21, 2017 at 8:52 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I was happy to be in the right place at the right time to capture this amazing action.
on July 20, 2017 at 5:34 pm | Reply svtakeiteasy

Quite extraordinary!
on July 25, 2017 at 12:40 pm | Reply Lu

Amazing photography!
- on July 26, 2017 at 5:50 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. It was largely a case of being in the right place at the right time.
on June 16, 2018 at 7:34 pm | Reply exploringcolour

Hey Mike! You’re the first one I’m telling but I’ve just decided I want to do a one-off post called “Here’s The Catch: Predator and Prey”. Can I choose some of your images, including the 2nd one down on this page. I’d also like to use one of your other snake-eating-fish images from another post, and that’s without even looking thru your other stock! 🙂
- on June 16, 2018 at 9:20 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Feel free to explore and use the images. Here’s one that comes to mind of a jumping spider with a dragonfly (https://michaelqpowell.com/2014/05/27/spider-captures-dragonfly-the-story/) or maybe a snake with a frog (https://michaelqpowell.com/2016/04/20/the-one-that-got-away/). There are lots of others you might like.
  - on June 16, 2018 at 9:32 pm exploringcolour
    
    Thanks Mike – those are great photo stories!
on June 18, 2018 at 8:05 am | Reply Here’s The Catch: Predator and Prey – Exploring Colour

[…] Powell | Snake catches catfish | 20 July, […]
on June 19, 2018 at 8:20 am | Reply Ellen Jennings

I felt your mixture of horror and fascination! Great series of images and story, Mike.
- on June 19, 2018 at 10:35 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Ellen. This was definitely a case of being in the right place at the right time. I often wonder how many cool (and creepy) things take place when I am not around. With that in mind, I try to get out as often as I can.
  - on June 20, 2018 at 12:12 pm Ellen Jennings
    
    I have the same thought, and sometime find it hard to head home! This pattern of days with heat advisories and/or thunder storm warnings has interfered with us getting out there and when we do many of the birds are laying low.
on June 22, 2018 at 5:14 am | Reply Dephinah Sirako

Nice shot but scary.
on June 14, 2020 at 9:50 am | Reply Look down | Mike Powell

[…] snake and watched it capture and devour a catfish. If you missed that posting, click on this link and check out “Snake captures catfish“—if you are like me, you will be fascinated and […]